Improvement of sweet taste preference in patients with diabetes by new dietary therapy that changes taste perception

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K12023
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Clinical nursing
• Research Institution: Tottori University
• Principal Investigator: SAKAI chieko 鳥取大学, 医学部, 助教 (90734327)
• Research Collaborator: HANAKI keiichi ; SHIMOHIRO hisashi ; HORIKOSHI yosuke
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 味認識

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Patients with diabetes may have difficulty with their dietary therapy due to a strong preference for sweet taste. We found that sweet taste preference was reduced by dietary guidance in some patients. However, there have been no reports about evaluation of dietary guidance methods with the focus on improvement of sweet taste preference.
The present study demonstrated that higher intake of umami components based on dietary guidance reduced the sweet taste preference and improved symptoms of diabetes. These results may suggest a method by which it is possible to control sugar intake, which is difficult with standard dietary therapy, and could contribute to establishing an innovative treatment for diabetes.

Free Research Field

糖尿病

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

今までコントロールが難しかった甘味嗜好の抑制と糖尿病の改善に有効な革新的食事療法として「旨味成分の摂取による甘味嗜好の抑制」について明らかになった。この様な糖尿病患者の甘味嗜好の改善に基づいた食事療法のあり方を再検証した研究課題はほとんど無く、この点が本研究成果の最大の特徴である。また、旨味成分の摂取を推進する過程で日本食文化の価値を再評価できると共に、その価値を世界に発信する有用な知見となる事が予想され、医学会にとどまらず社会に与えるインパクトとその波及効果は計り知れない。