An investigation of the influence of age and saliva flow on the oral retention of whey protein and its potential effect on the perception and acceptance of whey protein beverages

Norton, V. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1961-2539, Lignou, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6971-2258, Bull, S. P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5129-1731, Gosney, M. A. and Methven, L. (2020) An investigation of the influence of age and saliva flow on the oral retention of whey protein and its potential effect on the perception and acceptance of whey protein beverages. Nutrients, 12 (9). 2506. ISSN 2072-6643 doi: 10.3390/nu12092506

Abstract/Summary

Protein fortified products are regularly recommended to older adults to improve nutritional status and limit sarcopenia. However protein fortification can elicit negative sensory attributes such as mouthdrying. Sensitivity to mouthdrying can increase with age, yet the influence of saliva flow and mucoadhesion remain uncertain. Here two studies tested different whey protein beverages (WPB); 22 healthy younger volunteers completed a pilot and 84 healthy volunteers from two age groups (18–30; 65+) completed the main study. In both studies salivary flow rates (mL/min) were measured and saliva samples were collected at time intervals post beverage consumption to measure mucoadhesion to the oral cavity, where protein concentration was analysed by Bradford Assay. Volunteers rated perception and acceptability of WPBs in the main study. WPB consumption resulted in significantly increased protein concentration (p < 0.0001) in saliva samples compared with a control whey permeate beverage. Older adults had significantly lower unstimulated saliva flow (p = 0.003) and significantly increased protein concentration (p = 0.02) in saliva samples, compared with younger adults. Heating of WPB significantly (p < 0.05) increased mouthdrying and thickness perception and reduced sweetness compared with unheated WPB. Mucoadhesion is concluded to be a true phenomenon in WPBs and increases with age.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/92385
Identification Number/DOI	10.3390/nu12092506
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Health Innovation Partnership (HIP) Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences > Food Research Group
Publisher	MDPI
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