Sweet taste preference as a risk factor for alcohol dependence

Objective: Previous research has found that alcoholics have a greater prefe rence for sweet solutions than comparison subjects. This study tested the h ypothesis that preference for sweet solutions is a marker for alcoholism ri sk. Method: A total of 122 nonalcoholic subjects (59 men) participated. Fifty-e ight subjects had a paternal history of alcoholism, and 64 did not. Each su bject rated a series of sucrose solutions for intensity of sweetness and de gree of preference. Results: Subjects were able to rate accurately the relative intensity of sw eetness in the sucrose solutions. Both subjects with and those without a pa ternal history of alcoholism preferred a 0.42-M sucrose solution, irrespect ive of gender. Conclusions: This study failed to support the hypothesis that sweet prefere nce is a marker of alcoholism risk. The sweet preference observed previousl y among alcoholics may be a consequence of chronic alcohol consumption or o ther factors associated with heavy drinking.