When it comes to carbohydrate, it has been assumed that only mono- and disaccharides, but not oligo- and polysaccharides, can be tasted. However, because of its importance in the human diet, oral detection of starch or its hydrolysis products would be beneficial. The main goal of this study was to...
There is growing evidence that humans and other animals can taste certain starch hydrolysis products, namely, maltooligosaccharides (MOS), and that their detection is independent of the known sweet receptor, T1R2 T1R3. The overall goal of this study was to further investigate the taste perception of low degree-of-polymerization (DP) MOS in...
Starch is a significant component of the human diet and the glucose produced through its digestion provides a critical source of energy. When starch enters the mouth, salivary α-amylase hydrolyzes it into maltooligosaccharides (MOS, degree of polymerization [DP] 3-20) and maltopolysaccharides (MPS, DP >20). Previous studies have found that humans...
Due to a combination of misinterpretation and misleading illustration, the premise of a “tongue map”, which indicated that sweetness could only be detected at the front of the tongue and bitterness could only be detected on the back, became wide spread. In fact, all taste qualities can be detected on...
A majority of human caloric intake is in the form of complex carbohydrates, which have been assumed to be tasteless. However, there is considerable evidence from rat and human studies to support the existence of a secondary carbohydrate taste receptor that detects glucose polymers. Psychophysical studies in our lab suggest...
Sensory stimulation from food-related cues elicits a number of rapid physiologic responses that prepare the gastrointestinal tract for efficient nutrient utilization and help minimize perturbations to metabolic homeostasis. Cephalic phase insulin release (CPIR) is one such response that specifically promotes glucose homeostasis by limiting the rise in blood sugar after...