Impact of food odors signaling specific taste qualities and macronutrient content on saliva secretion and composition

P. Morquecho-Campos, F.J. Bikker, K. Nazmi, K. de Graaf, M.L. Laine, S. Boesveldt

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Olfactory food cues can induce appetite for similar food products in humans. Odors may thus signal essential information about a foods’ composition such as taste or even macronutrient content and may stimulate specific physiological responses in anticipation of food intake. Several studies have shown that sensory food cues could stimulate saliva secretion. However, potential differences between food odors in their effect on saliva secretion, or the effects of olfactory stimulation on changes in saliva composition remain to be elucidated. To gain more insight, we conducted two studies to determine the influence of various odors, representing different taste qualities (study 1) and macronutrients (study 2), on salivary biomarkers. In study 1, 36 participants were randomly exposed to no-odor, non-food, and odors signaling sweet, savory, and sour taste. In study 2, 60 participants were randomly exposed to no-odor, non-food, and odors signaling carbohydrates, protein, fat, and low-calorie food. For each condition, whole-mouth saliva was collected and saliva secretion rate determined. Furthermore, we determined mouth-watering perception (subjective salivation), visco-elasticity (study 1 only), mucin concentration, α-amylase and lingual lipase activity (study 2 only). For both studies, linear mixed model analyses showed that saliva secretion rate significantly increased by food odor exposure compared to no-odor and non-food conditions. However, no changes in salivary composition were observed. These findings indicate that food odors play a crucial role in anticipatory saliva responses and can thereby affect subsequent eating behavior.
Original languageEnglish
Article number104399
Number of pages9
JournalAppetite
Volume143
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2019

Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Council of Science and Technology, Mexico (CONACyT) awarded to PMC . This study was also funded by the authors’ institution and by a grant from the University of Amsterdam for the focal point “Oral infection and inflammation”. This work was financially supported by the National Council of Science and Technology, Mexico (CONACyT) awarded to PMC. This study was also funded by the authors? institution and by a grant from the University of Amsterdam for the focal point ?Oral infection and inflammation?. We would like to thank IFF, Symrise and AllSens for supplying the odors, and Philips Benelux for providing the electric toothbrushes. We would like to specially acknowledge Shijie Ma, Tom Sledziewski, Josien de Groot and Sietze Wijma for their assistance during data collection and chemical analyses. Mechteld Grootte-Bromhaar, Nhien Ly, Corine Perenboom, Dione Bouchaut, and Henriette Fick-Brinkhof for their help and advice during the preparations of these studies. PMC would also like to thank K24 for their help during the extensive preparation of the lab material. None of the authors reported a conflict of interest.

FundersFunder number
National Council of Science and Technology
Universiteit van Amsterdam
Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología

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