%0 Journal Article
%T Modeling Associations between Chemosensation, Liking for Fats and Sweets, Dietary Behaviors and Body Mass Index in Chronic Smokers
%A Brittany A. Larsen
%A Mark D. Litt
%A Tania B. Huedo-Medina
%A Valerie B. Duffy
%J Archive of "Nutrients".
%D 2019
%R 10.3390/nu11020271
%X 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 (n = 135, 37 ¡À 11 years) were measured for: Taste genetics (intensity of 6-n-propylthiouracil¡ªPROP); 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¡úgreater NaCl intensity¡úgreater food liking¡úhigher 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
%K sweet liking
%K fat liking
%K e-cigarettes
%K body mass index
%K dietary behaviors
%K smell
%K taste
%K tobacco
%K cigarettes
%K chronic smoking
%U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6412709/