title: No Difference in Perceived Intensity of Linoleic Acid in the Oral Cavity between Obese and Nonobese Individuals.
abstract: Findings from studies examining interactions between fat taste and dietary fat intake or body weight are mixed. A convenience sample of 735 visitors to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science ≥8 years old rated the taste intensity of edible taste strips impregnated with varying concentrations (%v/v) of linoleic acid (LA) (blank = 0.0, low = 0.06, medium = 0.15, high = 0.38). Percent body fat (BF%) was measured using bioelectrical impedance. Fat taste intensity was rated as significantly different across all concentrations (P < 0.001) except between the blank and low concentrations (P = 0.1). Ratings increased monotonically across concentrations. Children (<18 years; N = 180) rated all concentrations as more intense than adults (P < 0.001 for all). Women and girls rated the highest concentration as more intense than men and boys (P < 0.02 for all). BF% was not correlated with fat taste intensity ratings. Self-reported dietary intake indicated that obese individuals' intensity ratings for medium and high concentrations of LA were inversely related to recent mono- and poly-unsaturated fat exposure (r = -0.19 to -0.27; P < 0.03 for all). No such associations were observed in the nonobese group. Findings suggest that factors other than simple adiposity status influence fat taste intensity ratings, and that participants in fat taste studies should receive standardized meals prior to testing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Allied Health, Bowling Green State University, Health and Human Services 136, Bowling Green, OH 43403-0154, USA, rtucker@bgsu.edu.
authors.forename: Robin M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.affiliation: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. Denver, CO 80205, USA.
authors.forename: Tiffany M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Nuessle
authors.affiliation: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. Denver, CO 80205, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Garneau
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Temple University, 435B Biological Life Sciences Building, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA and.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smutzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, 700 W. State St., Stone Hall 113, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2059, USA.
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Mattes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D055697:Taste Perception / Q000187:drug effects; D013652:Taste Threshold / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019787:Linoleic Acid
keywords: bioelectrical impedance; children; fat taste; linoleic acid; psychophysical testing; taste intensity