Bitterness of sweeteners as a function of concentration

Brain Res Bull. 1995;36(5):505-13. doi: 10.1016/0361-9230(94)00225-p.

Abstract

Sixteen trained tasters provided sweetness and bitterness intensity ratings for 19 compounds including: acesulfame-K, alitame, aspartame, fructose, glucose, glycine, lactitol, maltitol, monoammonium glycyrrhizinate, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, neosugar (fructo-oligosaccharide), palatinit (isomalt), rebaudioside-A, sodium cyclamate, sodium saccharin, stevioside, sucralose, sucrose, and thaumatin. With increasing concentration, high-potency sweeteners including acesulfame-K, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, sodium saccharin, rebaudioside-A, and stevioside tended to become more bitter. Low-potency sweeteners including fructose, sucrose, and lactitol tended to become less bitter with increasing concentration.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Osmolar Concentration
  • Sweetening Agents* / chemistry
  • Taste*

Substances

  • Sweetening Agents