Impaired oral fatty acid chemoreception is associated with acute excess energy consumption

• Individual differences in sensitivity to fat can affect satiety.
• Subjects with impaired fatty acid chemoreception consumed more energy post high fat breakfast.
• Impaired fatty acid chemoreception may be a causal factor in development of obesity.
• There was no association between oral fatty acid sensitivity and BMI.

Excessive consumption of dietary fat is implicated with development of obesity. Impaired oral and gastrointestinal chemoreception to the breakdown products of dietary fat, fatty acids, may be associated with increased energy consumption. The objective of this study was to determine if impaired oral fatty acid chemoreception influences energy intake and perceived satiety. Subjects (n = 24) attended six laboratory sessions. Impaired fatty acid chemoreception was defined as subjects who could not identify >3.8 mM oleic acid (C18:1). Subjects participated in a blinded crossover study and consumed each of three high macronutrient breakfasts (high fat, high protein, high carbohydrate) and a balanced macronutrient breakfast on four separate days. Following breakfast, subjects were required to consume a buffet-style lunch until comfortably full. The amount consumed (MJ and g) was measured, as was perceived satiety prior to and following meals. Following the high fat breakfast, subjects with impaired fatty acid chemoreception (n = 10) consumed significantly more energy (2.1 ± 0.8 MJ) and grams (237.70 ± 46.37 g) of food at lunch compared to other subjects (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in energy, grams of food consumed at lunch and perceived satiety, between subjects for the other breakfasts (P > 0.05). Impaired oral fatty acid chemoreception was associated with excess energy consumption following a high fat meal.