The taste of fat elevates postprandial triacylglycerol

To explore the contributions of taste and smell stimulation by dietary fat on the postprandial rise of serum triacylglycerol (TAG), 19 healthy, overnight-fasted adults received lipid loads (50 g safflower oil in capsules) followed by oral (i.e., taste and smell) or odor-only stimulation with cream cheese on crackers or no load with odor or no stimulation. In eight participants, lipid loading was followed by taste-only stimulation. Stimulation was provided (where applicable) at 3-min intervals for 60 min and 15-min intervals for an additional 60 min. Blood was drawn at stipulated times. Fat loading with oral stimulation led to serum TAG concentrations that were significantly elevated over baseline at 2, 4, and 6 h. Fat loading with odor stimulation led to a significant rise only at 4 h. No significant elevation was observed with either no-load treatment. Taste-only treatment led to a significantly higher TAG response than all other treatments except loading with oral stimulation. These data provide additional evidence supporting a taste component for human fat perception.