A novel study on recently discovered fatty acid taste detection threshold among young lean and overweight individuals

Background: It is likely that the sense of taste evolved to alert humans to the nutritive or poisonous nature of possible foods. This study has been undertaken to unravel and highlight a possible relationship between the fat taste threshold and obesity, especially among young population. 

Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was to detect the fat taste threshold in young lean and overweight individuals and to compare the threshold in these individuals with age- and sex-matched normal individuals. 

Materials and Methods: The taste threshold for fat was detected in 50, normal (Body mass index [BMI] (18.5–24.9 kg/m2), lean (BMI <18.5 kg/m2), and overweight individuals (BMI of 25.0–29.9 kg/m2) of both sexes with the age between 18 and 30 years. The statistical analysis was done using Analysis of variance test. 

Results: Young lean individuals could detect the fatty acid taste at the lower concentration compared to overweight individuals, who detected at higher concentration (P < 0.01). 

Conclusion: Lean male and female showed a significant taste detection threshold for fat at low concentration compared to overweight male and female as well as with normal individual. Fatty acid taste detection is very important in day-to-day life for the disease-free life.