title: In-mouth amylase activity can reduce perception of saltiness in starch-thickened foods.
abstract: Sensory scores for saltiness and thickness obtained for savory liquids thickened with starches or the nonstarch hydrocolloid hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) were correlated with the panelists' amylase activity. Although higher enzyme activities were linked to lower thickness scores for systems thickened by starch, they were also associated with a decreased taste perception, particularly for starches retaining a granular structure after gelatinization (wheat and modified waxy maize). Microscopic evidence showed that the enzyme can disrupt such structures, and this is associated with a decreased mixing efficiency with water and consequently a reduced transport of tastant (sodium) to the saliva (aqueous) phase and to the taste buds. This explains the lower saltiness scores for subjects with higher amylase activity, even if they are associated with a lower perceived thickness.
authors.affiliation: Division of Food Sciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough LE12 5RD, United Kingdom. anne-laure.ferry@nottingham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Anne-Laure S
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ferry
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hort
authors.forename: Sandra E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lagarrigue
authors.forename: Baltasar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vallès-Pàmies
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism*; D013213:Starch / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013213:Starch; D000516:alpha-Amylases