The Influence of Sleep on Human Taste Function and Perception: A Systematic Review

Sleep problems are associated with increased risk of obesity. Multiple mechanisms have been identified to support this relationship, including changes in sensory processing and food choice. Taste researchers have recently begun to explore whether changes in taste occur as a result of short-term or long-term sleep habits. A systematic review was conducted to investigate these relationships. A total of 13 studies were included in the review. Heterogeneity in both the sleep and taste measurements used was noted, and most studies failed to assess sour, bitter and umami tastes. Still, the available evidence suggests that sweet taste hedonic perception appears to be undesirably influenced by short sleep when viewed through the lens of health. That is, preferred sweetness concentration increases as sleep duration decreases. Habitual sleep and interventions curtailing sleep had minimal associations or effects on sweet taste sensitivity. Salt taste sensitivity and hedonic responses appear to be relatively unaffected by insufficient sleep, but more work is needed. Solid evidence on other taste qualities is not available at the present time.