Journal of Human Environment and Health Promotion

en Diet Quality Assessed by the Healthy Eating Index Is Nonlinearly Associated with Sweet and Salt Taste Recognition Thresholds in Healthy Adults: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Study Health Promotion Health Promotion پژوهشي Original Article <div style="text-align: justify;">Background: This study aimed to examine the association between diet quality, assessed by the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), and recognition thresholds for sweet and salty taste among healthy adults. Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted between April 2023 and March 2024, 200 healthy adults were included. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and diet quality was quantified using HEI-2015. Recognition thresholds for sweet (sucrose) and salty (NaCl) tastes were measured using a standardized protocol. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used to examine the associations, adjusting for demographic factors, energy intake, and serum micronutrient levels. Results: Higher HEI scores were associated with lower recognition thresholds for both sweet taste (β = -0.018; 95% CI: -0.029, -0.007) and salty taste (β = -0.015; 95% CI: -0.026, -0.004). Participants in the highest HEI tertile had greater odds of being taste-sensitive (sweet: OR = 2.64; 95% CI: 1.38-5.07; salt: OR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.12-3.91) than those in the lowest tertile. Non-linear analyses indicated stronger associations at HEI scores above approximately 60. A significant interaction between HEI score and serum zinc concentration was observed for sweet taste recognition. Conclusion: Higher diet quality was associated with greater sensitivity to sweet and salty tastes, suggesting that overall dietary patterns may influence taste perception.</div> Diet quality, Taste perception, Sodium chloride, Sucrose, Healthy Eating Index, 208 216 http://jhehp.zums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-713-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Arghavan Sabouri samscigroup@gmail.com 100319475328460016780 0009-0003-3043-1426 No Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran. Mohammad Heidari milajerdialireza@gmail.com 100319475328460016781 100319475328460016781 No Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Science, Urmia, Iran. Saeid Ghavamzadeh ghavamzadeh_s@umsu.ac.ir 100319475328460016782 100319475328460016782 Yes Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.