The effect of fasting on the interaction between taste perception and metabolic regulation : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Food Technology at Massey University
Loading...
Date
2012
DOI
Open Access Location
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Massey University
Rights
The Author
Abstract
Taste perception, via reception of tastants and endocrine signalling within the tongue,
plays a key role in consumer acceptance and sensory evaluation of foods. Taste
perception triggers hormones that are crucial in the control energy balance and
appetite exerts a strong effect on food intake, satiety and metabolic regulation. Due to
the complex interaction of genetic, biological and psychological factors, the influence
of fasting on the relationship between taste perception and associated metabolic
parameters remains to be explored.
The present study investigated the effect of fasting on interaction between taste
perception and metabolic regulation through three main objectives. The first objective
was to explore the relationship between the bitter taste sensitivity and the fatty acid
taste sensitivity. Forty healthy male adults were classified into three taster groups
based on their sensitivity to bitter agent 6-N-2-propylthiouracil (PROP): nontasters
(n=10), medium tasters (n=20) and supertasters (n=10). The groups were also
confirmed with fungiform papillae densities. However, no significant correlation was
observed between PROP status and fungiform papillae densities. Also, results showed
neither PROP status nor the fungiform papillae density associated with fatty acid
thresholds.
The second objective was to investigate the effect of overnight fasting or meal
consumption on sweet and fatty acid taste perception. Detection thresholds for sucrose
and linoleic acid were measured by using ASTM method during fasted and satiated
state. The result showed increases in sucrose detection thresholds under the both
fasted state and satiated state. The linoleic acid thresholds increased after meal
consumption and reduced after prolonged fasting.
This led to a further investigation on the last objective- the role of key plasma
metabolites on fatty acid taste perception in fasting and satiated states. The results
indicated that neither the effect of metabolic status on fatty acids thresholds nor
relationships between fatty acid thresholds and blood metabolic parameters were
observed. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in blood metabolites across
PROP taster group, which means that PROP classification cannot be considered as a
predictor to the blood metabolites.
In conclusion, the present study provides evidence suggesting that PROP sensitivity
cannot predict fatty acid taste sensitivity and metabolic status has no effect on fat taste
perception. In addition, blood metabolites do not show any difference among PROP
taster group and any relationship with taste perception either.
Description
Keywords
Taste perception, Sensory evaluation, Food tasting, Fasting