Trigeminal Stimulus Menthol Masks Bitter Off-Flavor of Artificial Sweetener Acesulfame-K
Consumer health concerns and regulatory policies lead to a growing demand for sugar-sweetened beverage alternatives. A reduced energy content can be achieved using artificial sweeteners, which often also convey a metallic or bitter off-flavor. Therefore, the alteration of sweetness perception and ma...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Foods |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/18/2734 |
| _version_ | 1797488499760300032 |
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| author | Kai Büchner Jana Haagen Ashtri Sastrosubroto Roland Kerpes Jessica Freiherr Thomas Becker |
| author_facet | Kai Büchner Jana Haagen Ashtri Sastrosubroto Roland Kerpes Jessica Freiherr Thomas Becker |
| author_sort | Kai Büchner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Consumer health concerns and regulatory policies lead to a growing demand for sugar-sweetened beverage alternatives. A reduced energy content can be achieved using artificial sweeteners, which often also convey a metallic or bitter off-flavor. Therefore, the alteration of sweetness perception and masking of potential off-flavors are paramount for improving sweet beverages. Trigeminal stimuli, such as capsaicin (spicy) or menthol (cooling), have been used to influence taste perception in food items, although their use in beverages has not yet been systematically investigated. Here, the influence of menthol on sweetness perception in an aqueous solution is examined both on the sensory and psychophysiological level. The addition of menthol had no sensory effect on sweetness perception; however, psychophysiological measurements suggest a boost in the physiological response to cold perception through the addition of sugar. Moreover, menthol addition shifted the recognition threshold of unpleasant bitterness of the sweetener acesulfame-K from 21.35 to 36.93 mg/L, masking the off-flavor. These findings illuminate the complexity of trigeminal perception influences on taste. Further investigation of these effects can render trigeminal stimuli an effective tool to enhance beverage aroma and flavor. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:03:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-36fb6db6dae24a2ab3769527e12d5132 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:03:04Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj.art-36fb6db6dae24a2ab3769527e12d51322023-11-23T16:12:18ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582022-09-011118273410.3390/foods11182734Trigeminal Stimulus Menthol Masks Bitter Off-Flavor of Artificial Sweetener Acesulfame-KKai Büchner0Jana Haagen1Ashtri Sastrosubroto2Roland Kerpes3Jessica Freiherr4Thomas Becker5Chair of Brewing and Beverage Technology, Research Group Beverage and Cereal Biotechnology, Technical University of Munich, Weihenstephaner Steig 20, 85354 Freising, GermanyChair of Brewing and Beverage Technology, Research Group Beverage and Cereal Biotechnology, Technical University of Munich, Weihenstephaner Steig 20, 85354 Freising, GermanySensory Analytics and Technologies, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV, Giggenhauser Strasse 35, 85354 Freising, GermanyChair of Brewing and Beverage Technology, Research Group Beverage and Cereal Biotechnology, Technical University of Munich, Weihenstephaner Steig 20, 85354 Freising, GermanySensory Analytics and Technologies, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV, Giggenhauser Strasse 35, 85354 Freising, GermanyChair of Brewing and Beverage Technology, Research Group Beverage and Cereal Biotechnology, Technical University of Munich, Weihenstephaner Steig 20, 85354 Freising, GermanyConsumer health concerns and regulatory policies lead to a growing demand for sugar-sweetened beverage alternatives. A reduced energy content can be achieved using artificial sweeteners, which often also convey a metallic or bitter off-flavor. Therefore, the alteration of sweetness perception and masking of potential off-flavors are paramount for improving sweet beverages. Trigeminal stimuli, such as capsaicin (spicy) or menthol (cooling), have been used to influence taste perception in food items, although their use in beverages has not yet been systematically investigated. Here, the influence of menthol on sweetness perception in an aqueous solution is examined both on the sensory and psychophysiological level. The addition of menthol had no sensory effect on sweetness perception; however, psychophysiological measurements suggest a boost in the physiological response to cold perception through the addition of sugar. Moreover, menthol addition shifted the recognition threshold of unpleasant bitterness of the sweetener acesulfame-K from 21.35 to 36.93 mg/L, masking the off-flavor. These findings illuminate the complexity of trigeminal perception influences on taste. Further investigation of these effects can render trigeminal stimuli an effective tool to enhance beverage aroma and flavor.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/18/2734<i>nervus trigeminus</i>artificial sweetenermentholpsychophysiologyoff-flavor |
| spellingShingle | Kai Büchner Jana Haagen Ashtri Sastrosubroto Roland Kerpes Jessica Freiherr Thomas Becker Trigeminal Stimulus Menthol Masks Bitter Off-Flavor of Artificial Sweetener Acesulfame-K Foods <i>nervus trigeminus</i> artificial sweetener menthol psychophysiology off-flavor |
| title | Trigeminal Stimulus Menthol Masks Bitter Off-Flavor of Artificial Sweetener Acesulfame-K |
| title_full | Trigeminal Stimulus Menthol Masks Bitter Off-Flavor of Artificial Sweetener Acesulfame-K |
| title_fullStr | Trigeminal Stimulus Menthol Masks Bitter Off-Flavor of Artificial Sweetener Acesulfame-K |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trigeminal Stimulus Menthol Masks Bitter Off-Flavor of Artificial Sweetener Acesulfame-K |
| title_short | Trigeminal Stimulus Menthol Masks Bitter Off-Flavor of Artificial Sweetener Acesulfame-K |
| title_sort | trigeminal stimulus menthol masks bitter off flavor of artificial sweetener acesulfame k |
| topic | <i>nervus trigeminus</i> artificial sweetener menthol psychophysiology off-flavor |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/18/2734 |
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