L-proline supplementation affects non-volatile flavour perception through oral microbiome metabolic pathways.

ABSTRACT: L-proline is a non-essential amino acid that can be metabolised by the oral microbiome. This study hypothesised that L-proline could influence the microbiome and that shifts in the microbiome could subsequently affect non-volatile flavour perception. A semi-trained panel (n = 20) completed sensory assessments using the generalised labelled visual analogue scale (glVAS) for nine tastants at baseline, during a five-day supplementation phase, and post-supplementation within a three-week protocol. Analysis at the tastant level identified a significant increase in menthol taste perception (p = 0.011, Wilcoxon) during supplementation at the group level (n = 20). Shotgun sequencing results demonstrated a distinct beta diversity separation in metabolic pathways during supplementation at the entire

SUBMITTER: Zhang S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12749309 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature