Modeling Associations between Chemosensation, Liking for Fats and Sweets, Dietary Behaviors and Body Mass Index in Chronic Smokers

• Main Authors: Brittany A. Larsen, Mark D. Litt, Tania B. Huedo-Medina, Valerie B. Duffy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-01-01
• Series: Nutrients
• Subjects: sweet liking; fat liking; e-cigarettes; body mass index; dietary behaviors; smell; taste; tobacco; cigarettes; chronic smoking
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/2/271

Chronic smokers have a greater risk for altered chemosensation, unhealthy dietary patterns, and excessive adiposity. In an observational study of chronic smokers, we modeled relationships between chemosensation, fat/carbohydrate liking, smoking-associated dietary behaviors, and body mass index (BMI). Also tested in the model was liking for sweet electronic cigarette juice (e-juice). Smokers (<i>n</i> = 135, 37 &#177; 11 years) were measured for: Taste genetics (intensity of 6-n-propylthiouracil&#8212;PROP); taste (NaCl and quinine intensities) and olfactory (odor identification) function; liking for cherry e-juice; and weight/height to calculate BMI. Smokers survey-reported their food liking and use of smoking for appetite/weight control. Structural equation models tested direct and indirect relationships between chemosensation, fat/carbohydrate liking, dietary behaviors, and BMI. In good-fitting models, taste intensity was linked to BMI variation through fat/carbohydrate liking (greater PROP intensity&#8594;greater NaCl intensity&#8594;greater food liking&#8594;higher BMI). Olfactory function tended to predict sweet e-juice liking, which, in turn, partially mediated the food liking and BMI association. The path between smoking-associated dietary behaviors and BMI was direct and independent of chemosensation or liking. These findings indicate that taste associates with BMI in chronic smokers through liking of fats/carbohydrates. Future research should determine if vaping sweet e-juice could improve diet quality and adiposity for smokers.