• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.534-541
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• 2012

This study examined salty taste acuity and salty taste preference and sodium intake in relation to zinc nutritional status in 2 rural populations in Korea. And we also examined the main food contributors of their sodium intakes. We enrolled 218 adults (66 men and 152 women) from the Kangneung and Samcheok regions in Korea's Kangwon province in our study conducted from December 2011 to February 2012. Participants from each region were divided into 3 groups based on their serum zinc level (T1: lowest, T2: intermediate, T3: highest). We compared the salty taste acuity and preference, Na index (Dish Frequency Questionnaire for estimation of habitual sodium intake), blood pressure, and intakes of nutrients including sodium by 3 groups of serum zinc level. The results were as follows: a higher serum zinc level indicated a lower sodium intake and Na index (P<0.05). The salty taste acuity was considerably higher for participants from the Kangneung region than those from the Samcheok region (P<0.05). And the serum zinc level was significantly higher in participants from the Kangneung region than those from the Samcheok region (P<0.05). We further divided the participants into 2 groups: those who consumed more zinc than the recommended intake (RI) and the others. We compared salty taste acuity and salty taste preference in the 2 groups. The salty taste threshold and palatable salty taste concentrations were lower for the group with a zinc intake above RI than for the group with zinc intake below the RI. However, the difference was not significant. This study confirms that taste function differs depending on zinc nutritional status. In future, it is required to a large-scale, long-term, prospective study on the correlation between zinc intake, serum zinc levels, and taste perception function and blood pressure.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.197-202
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• 2011

The present study demonstrates the first-ever characterization of cell types that express the vanilloid receptor 1 (VR1) in the taste buds of rat circumvallate papillae. We performed electron microscopy to identify the subcellular location. The VR1 immunoreactivity was associated with the endoplasmic reticulum, cytoplasmic vesicles, and plasma membrane of taste cells. These results demonstrate the localization of the VR1 in membranous structures of the taste cells. We used double immunofluorescence histochemistry with taste cell type-specific markers to identify the cell types that express the VR1. The VR1 was detected in all functional taste cell types (Type I, Type II, and Type III cells). Together, our data suggest that the VR1 might play different roles according to the cell types within a taste bud.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.531-536
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• 2022

Umami taste-yielding foods, such as, Joseonganjang, dried anchovies, dried shiitake, dried Konbu (kelp), and Yukjeot, are widely used in the Korean cuisine as soup base. While Umami taste enhancement related to Kokumi taste substances has been proposed in human sensory studies, the potential action of Kokumi taste substances has not been explored on calcium-sensing receptors (CaSR), here referred to as Kokumi taste receptors. In this study, we investigated the effect of Umami taste-yielding foods on Kokumi taste receptors using cells expressing human CaSR. We monitored the temporal changes in intracellular Ca²⁺ in HEK293T cells expressing CaSR in response to aqueous extract of Joseonganjang, dried anchovies, dried shiitake, dried Konbu, and Yukjeot. Kokumi substances tested-glutathione and γ-Glu-Val-Gly- evoked intracellular Ca²⁺ influx in a concentration-dependent manner. A similar increment of intracellular Ca²⁺ influx was induced by Joseonganjang, Yukjeot, and dried anchovies, but not by dried shiitake and dried Konbu. Only Joseonganjang- and Yukjeot-evoked intracellular Ca²⁺ influx was significantly reduced by NPS 2143, a CaSR-specific antagonist. These data indicated that some Umami substances/Umami-yielding materials could activate CaSR, but this property was not observed for all the Umami tasting substances.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2011

Objectives : Genetic analysis and taste pattern were performed to identify species between Glycyrrhiza uralensis and G. glabra which are officially listed in Korean Pharmacopoeia IX as origin of Gamcho(g$\={a}$nc$\v{a}$o, licorice root, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma). Methods : Genetic analysis showed that identification between two species was done by comparing base sequence of ITS(intergenic transcribed spacer) and trnH-psbA regions from eleven Gamchoes sold in market. There was different taste pattern using by taste sensor in Glycyrrhiza uralensis and G. glabra. Results : Genetic analysis showed that six Gamchoes from China were identified as Glycyrrhiza uralensis and five Gamchoes from Uzbekistan were G. glabra. From the results of taste pattern, sourness and astringency of Glycyrrhiza uralensis from China were significantly higher than G. glabra from Uzbekistan, and aftertaste of astringency, aftertaste of umami, and saltiness of Glycyrrhiza uralensis were signicantly low as compared to G. glabra. There is no significant difference between two species in terms of bitterness, aftertaste of bitterness, and umami. Conclusions : Taken together, Glycyrrhiza uralensis from China and G. glabra from Uzbekistan were identified by taste sensor, and this technic could be applied to establishment of taste pattern marker for identification of different species located in various regions.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.327-341
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• 1998

Aims : The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are any changes in taste sensitivity with advancing age and to see if smoking or oral hygiene can affect the taste sensitivity. Method : Nine hundred and thirty four subjects(458 male and 476 females) were included for the study and they were categorized into 4 age groups( under 20, 20 to 39, 40 to 59, and over 60 age group ). The electrical taste thresholds were measured using an electrogustometer for the 4 different sites in the oral cavity, I.e., tongue tip, tougue alteral, circumvallate papilla, and soft palate. Results : The elctrical taste thresholds were significantly incresed with advancing age in both gender, but the pattern of change is moere abrupt in female after 40. There were not significant differences in electrical taste threshold between smoking and non-smoking people. Taste thresholds were significantly lower in the groups with higher frequency of daily toothbrushing than the groups with lower frequency Conclusion : The electrical taste threshold is increased with aging. It is not influenced by smoking but by toothbrushing.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.837-848
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• 2007

The literature suggested that a small reduction in overall blood pressure can have a large effect on overall prevalence of hypertension, and therefore, the affect of taste preferences of the population on salt intake should be considered for long-term blood pressure intervention programs. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of salt taste preference and salt taste sensitivity on salt intake behavior as risk factors for high blood pressure. We collected information on blood pressure, diet and lifestyle behaviors, salt taste preference and salt taste sensitivity from 540 respondents from Suseo-dong, Seoul. Salt taste sensitivity was assessed by administering a 1% NaCl solution to the subject's tongue and measuring the perceived intensity on 10 level scale. Salt intake behavior was classified into 3 categories: frequency of high-sodium foods, practice of salt-reducing behavior and frequency of vegetable and fruit intake. Salt taste preference showed a significant relation to the subjects' blood pressure, i.e. subjects with a higher salt preference had higher blood pressure. Salt taste sensitivity did not show a significant relation to blood pressure. However, there was a positive correlation between salt taste preference and salt taste sensitivity. Among the 3 indicators used to measure salt intake behavior, the practice of salt-reducing behavior remained significantly correlated to blood pressure. Moreover, salt-reducing behavior and salt taste preference showed a significant correlation, i.e. people who do not like salty foods tend to practice more salt-reducing behavior, leading to reduced levels in blood pressure. In a population, a small reduction in overall blood pressure can have large effects in overall prevalence of hypertension, in contrast to clinical studies where achievement of an individual's normal blood pressure is emphasized. Therefore, taste preference of the population should be considered for long-term blood pressure intervention programs.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.201-210
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• 2012

This study examines the structure of taste repertoires for cultural arts. The major results are as follows: firstly, the numbers of taste repertoires were 1.66 for type 1 and 4.27 for type 2. More specifically, respondents tended to have movie taste. Secondly, there were socio-demographic differences for taste repertoires for cultural arts. In other words. female respondents to have more taste repertoires than that of male respondents. Also, younger respondents to have more taste repertoires than that of older respondent. Thirdly, blog users tended to have more taste repertoires than that of non-users. It can be argued that blog use may be a determinant of the number of taste repertoires for cultural arts. In addition, although the number of taste repertoires type 1 was determined by tastes for theatre, movie, popular music, musical and photo, the number of taste repertoires type 2 was determined by tastes for theatre, movie, musical and classic contents.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.9-14
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• 2013

Objectives : Cnidii Fructus is prescribed as the fruit of Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson or Torilis japonica (Houtt.) DC. in Korea pharmacopoeia. Although there are differences in the composition of useful components, two species have been used without distinction. In order to discriminate them, DNA sequencing and taste pattern analysis were used in this study. Methods : Primers ITS 1 and ITS 4 were used to amplify the intergenic transcribed spacer(ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA from seven T. japonica and six C. monnieri samples. Taste pattern of samples were measured by using taste-sensing system SA402B equipped with five foodstuff sensors(CT0, C00, AAE, CA0, and AE1). The five initial taste(sourness, bitterness, astringency, umami, and saltiness) and three aftertaste(aftertaste of bitterness, astringency, and umami) of two species were compared. Results : According to the results of ITS region sequence analysis, two species showed 94 base pairs differences. The similarity of two sequences was 85%. From the taste pattern analysis, sourness, bitterness, aftertaste of bitterness(aftertaste-B), and umami showed a different pattern. Especially, bitterness and aftertaste-B of C. monnieri were significantly higher than T. japonica. In addition, two species were shown to have two markedly different clustering by these two flavors. Conclusion : T. japonica and C. monnieri were effectively discriminated using DNA sequencing and taste pattern analysis. These methods can be used to identify the origin of traditional medicine in order to maintain therapeutic efficacy.

• 기호학연구
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• no.56
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• pp.7-44
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• 2018

The objective of this paper is to propose a classification of Korean taste terms, especially Korean taste adjectives, from the perspective of cognitive science. The classification of Korean taste terms is here grounded in the definition of 'taste sense', 'flavor' and 'taste' which is usually employed in disciplines of cognitive science. There have been a large number of domestic researches in field of taste terms. Accordingly, a lot of research findings on the classification of taste terms have steadily been released showing the differences among researchers. These different classifications are largely based on the fact that researchers have applied their subjective criteria rather than their objective in order to categorize taste terms. According to previous studies, it is well-known that, in everyday usage, the term 'taste' covers a much wider range of qualities than those perceived through the taste receptor cells alone. In addition, we take it for granted that as much as 80~90% of taste comes from olfactory modality. It is also important to note that the texture and temperature of food, the color of food, the sounds of food, and atmospheric cues have an essential effect on taste perception. Many scientists have already pointed out that taste evaluations are influenced by a number of individual and sociocultural factors. Eating and tasting are important parts of our everyday life, so that linguistic approaches to taste perception seem to be of great significance. We can assume that a classification of taste terms from the perspective of cognitive sciences may shed light on the perceptive mechanism through which we perceive taste. It should be noted that this paper is an advanced work prepared for the follow-up study which will try to make a geometric model of word field 'taste terms' existing or probably existing in the mental lexicon of human beings.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.248-256
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• 1990

To compare Na intake and excretion in elementary school children in rural and urban areas of Korea, dietary intake record, urinary Na and K excretion and preference for salty taste were measured in 39 children in 4th grade in Seoul and 36 children in 4th and 5the grades in Kochang-gun)farming area) and their mothers. mean daily urinary Na excretions were 48.8mEq in children and 62.3mEq in mothers. Mothers showed significantly higher preference for salty taste compared to children(X2=16.09, p<0.01). Among the children, those in Seoul had higher preference for salty taste than those in Kochang-gun(X2=8.32, p<0.05). Since the children showed significantly lower preference for salty taste than mothers, more researches and efforts should be directed to prevent the shifts of the taste of the children in order to decrease their Na intake and the risk of hypertension later in life.