Factors contributing to individual differences in sucrose preference.

Although heightened throughout childhood and adolescence, sweet taste preference declines during late adolescence (Desor et al., 1977; Desor and Beauchamp, 1987). Despite such age-related changes in sweet preferences, individual variation, due to both genetics (Bartoshuk, 2000) and experience (Beauchamp and Moran, 1982, 1984), exists at both ends of the age spectrum (Desor et al., 1977; Beauchamp and Moran, 1982). For example, infants and teenagers of African descent preferred significantly higher levels of sucrose when compared to similarly aged Caucasians (Desor et al., 1977; Bacon et al., 1994). Moreover, experience with sugar water during infancy results in greater preference for sweet tastes during the second year of life (Beauchamp and Moran, 1984). The goal of the present study was twofold. First, we determined whether racial and ethnic differences in sweet preference are present during childhood and adulthood. Secondly, we explored whether early exposure to sweetened water modifies sweet preferences during childhood.