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. 2009 Feb;34(2):145-50.
doi: 10.1093/chemse/bjn072. Epub 2008 Dec 16.

Oral detection of short-, medium-, and long-chain free fatty acids in humans

Richard D Mattes  1
Affiliations

Oral detection of short-, medium-, and long-chain free fatty acids in humans

Richard D Mattes. Chem Senses. 2009 Feb.

Abstract

There is increasing evidence supporting an oral chemosensory detection system for free fatty acids (FFA). The presumptive transduction mechanisms have different ligand specificities. Psychophysical studies with FFA varying in chain length and saturation may aid in identifying the presence and functionality of these mechanisms in humans. Oral detection thresholds were measured for linoleic, stearic, lauric, and caproic acids in 32 healthy adults by an ascending, 3-alternative, forced-choice, sip and spit procedure. Thresholds were obtained for all fatty acids from all participants, but the distributions were wide and nonnormal. Thresholds were not correlated between fatty acids nor with thresholds for sucrose (taste), butanol (olfactory), mineral oil, or gum acacia (both somatosensory). These data demonstrate human oral sensitivity to short-, medium-, and long-chain FFA and suggest the presence of multiple transduction mechanisms. The findings are consistent with, but do not definitively demonstrate, a role for taste that may have a genetic basis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distributions of fatty acid detection threshold values (N = 32). “des” = Capsaicin desensitized prior to threshold determination.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Median fatty acid detection thresholds (N = 32).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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