Understanding how changes in individual food preferences in a dynamic environment translate into dietary choices helps to unravel the aetiology of suboptimal nutrition in the population. To facilitate the measurements of food preferences in a multiethnic Asian population, we aimed to develop and validate the Macronutrient and Taste Preference Ranking Task (MTPRT) in an Asian population. We shortlisted 1770 local food items based on the predominant macronutrient groups (≥50 % macronutrient content is protein or fat or carbohydrates), classified their taste clusters, standard-photographed a final list of 36 food items, and developed an electronic survey through cognitive interviews with 30 participants. We then validated the MTPRT amongst 66 participants (mean (SD) age = 47.4 (11.7) years, 57.6 % male, with Chinese: Malay: Indian ethnicity ratio 3:1:1), through random crossover administration of sweet and savoury standard meals with equivalent macronutrients across 2 study visits over a week. The average duration taken to complete MTPRT was 14.1 (5.3) minutes. The sweet and savoury taste preference scores were inversely correlated (r = -0.9, p < 0.0001). The liking and preference for savoury taste were reduced after consuming savoury meals (p = 0.0009). The intra-person correlations for MTPRT scores were all r > 0.6, p < 0.001. The macronutrient preference scores were all positively associated with the self-reported macronutrient intakes derived from the Food Frequency Questionnaire, independent of sex, age, ethnicity, and BMI. Our study demonstrates the validity and reproducibility of MTPRT in multiethnic Asian populations for future evaluation of food preferences in multiethnic Asian population.

中文翻译：

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亚洲多民族人群常量营养素和口味偏好排名任务的开发和验证

了解动态环境中个人食物偏好的变化如何转化为饮食选择有助于揭示人群营养不良的病因。为了便于测量多民族亚洲人群的食物偏好，我们旨在开发和验证亚洲人群的大量营养素和口味偏好排名任务（MTPRT）。我们根据主要常量营养素类别（常量营养素含量≥50%为蛋白质、脂肪或碳水化合物）入围了 1770 种当地食品，对其口味进行了分类，用标准照片拍摄了 36 种食品的最终清单，并通过认知访谈进行了电子调查有30名参与者。然后，我们通过随机交叉管理甜味和咸味标准膳食，在 66 名参与者（平均 (SD) 年龄 = 47.4 (11.7) 岁，57.6% 男性，华人：马来人：印度人种族比例为 3:1:1）中验证了 MTPRT一周内的 2 次研究访问中含有同等的常量营养素。完成 MTPRT 所需的平均时间为 14.1 (5.3) 分钟。甜味和咸味口味偏好得分呈负相关（r = -0.9，p < 0.0001）。食用咸味食物后，对咸味的喜好和偏好有所降低（p = 0.0009）。MTPRT 评分的人内相关性均为 r > 0.6，p < 0.001。常量营养素偏好得分均与食物频率调查问卷中自我报告的常量营养素摄入量呈正相关，与性别、年龄、种族和体重指数无关。我们的研究证明了 MTPRT 在亚洲多民族人群中的有效性和可重复性，用于未来评估亚洲多民族人群的食物偏好。