RESUMO
To evaluate the capacity to perceive bitter taste in a sample of the elderly population of the Brazilian Federal District, and to investigate its association with the consumption profile of distinct food groups. A total of 255 female outpatients aged 60 years or older took part in this cross-sectional study. The following data were determined for all the volunteers: alimentary frequency by clinical dieticians; genotyping of the G145C polymorphism in the TAS2r38 gene; cognitive status; sensorial (visual and hearing) acuity and drugs related to ageusia or dysgeusia. Sensitivity to bitter taste was assessed using phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) in a subset. Non-parametric tests confirmed the remarkable effect of the C allele in determining sensitivity to PTC (p<0.001). C allele carriers displayed diminished consumption of type B vegetables as well as of some vegetables generally recognized as bitter: arugula (p=0.044) and chard (p=0.006). No associations were observed for the remaining food classes. The present findings suggest that the G145C genetic variation in the TAS2r38 gene modestly influenced food consumption habits of Brazilian older women. Nonetheless, the results do not rule out possible effects of past experiences on choices of elderly individuals.