Sodium Chloride and Sour Taste in Humans-A Pilot Study

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Emilia Leszkowicz - , University of Gdańsk (Autor:in)
  • Julia Figat - , University of Gdańsk (Autor:in)
  • Manuela Fronda - , University of Gdańsk (Autor:in)
  • Krystian Marszalek - , Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology – State Research Institute (Autor:in)
  • Jakub Kosinski - , Prof. Waclaw Dabrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology – State Research Institute (Autor:in)
  • Thomas Hummel - , Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde (Autor:in)

Abstract

A recent study demonstrated the impact of citric acid on salty taste in humans. We examined the opposite effect: the impact of NaCl on sour taste at low concentrations of both tastes (i.e., lower dilutions among those specified in the PN-ISO 3972:2016-07 standard). Volunteers were presented with the samples of pure solutions of citric acid (SOUR) and taste mixtures of SOUR and NaCl in different concentrations. They were asked to identify taste and its intensity. Our results showed that low doses of NaCl (analyzed collectively, but mainly the concentrations of 0.16 and 0.24 g/L, and to a much lesser extent 0.34 and 0.48 g/L) improved the recognition of sour taste in a SOUR(0.25 g/L)-NaCl mixture compared to a pure SOUR solution (0.25 g/L). NaCl's enhancing effect on sour taste intensity was visible in some cases but not in all. The results suggest that NaCl has the potential to improve the recognition of sour taste under certain conditions. Further studies are required to fully understand the mechanisms of sour-salty interaction in the context of sour taste, and how these mechanisms depend on the substance's concentration.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummere70181
Seitenumfang5
FachzeitschriftJournal of sensory studies
Jahrgang41
Ausgabenummer5
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 25 Aug. 2026
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

Scopus 105048087291

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • Citric acid, Sodium chloride, Sour taste, Taste interaction