Title:Important Role of Umami Taste Sensitivity in Oral and Overall Health
Volume: 20
Issue: 16
Author(s): Takashi Sasano, Sizuko Satoh-Kuriwada, Noriaki Shoji, Masahiro Iikubo, Misako Kawai, Hisayuki Uneyama and Maya Sakamoto
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Umami, taste disorder, dry mouth, overall health and elderly.
Abstract: Our newly developed umami taste sensitivity test revealed the loss of only the umami taste sensation in some elderly patients,
whereas the other four basic taste sensations (sweet, salty, sour, bitter) were normal. Such patients all complained of appetite loss and
weight loss, resulting in poor overall health. As a treatment for taste disorder patients, improvement of salivary flow has been adopted in
our clinic. Umami taste stimulation increases salivary flow rate of not only major but also minor salivary glands. After treatment with
umami taste stimulation, patients remarkably regained their appetite, weight and overall health. Sensitivity to umami taste seems to contribute
to good overall health in elderly people.
