Effects of TUG-891, a potent GPR120 agonist, on the physical and oral lipid- coating properties, and secretion of saliva

Abstract

GPR120 agonists were recently shown to enhance the fatty orosensation in humans when added to vegetable oil or a low-fat food system, but did not evoke it by themselves. Furthermore, an emulsion prepared from vegetable oil had a stronger fatty orosensation than that prepared from mineral oil even though the physical properties of both emulsions were similar. To clarify the mechanisms underlying the enhancement of the fatty orosensation by GPR120 agonists, the present study investigated the effects of TUG-891, a potent GPR120 agonist, on physical and oral lipid-coating properties and the secretion of saliva. The addition of TUG-891 to a vegetable oil emulsion did not significantly change its physical properties, such as viscosity, particle distribution, interfacial tension, contact angle, frictional load, and ζ-electric potential, or the amount of the lipid coating remaining in the oral cavity. These results indicate that TUG-891 enhanced the fatty orosensation without changing the physical or oral lipid-coating properties of the emulsion. The addition of TUG-891 to a vegetable oil emulsion and whipped cream significantly increased the amount of saliva secreted. Therefore, TUG-891, a potent GPR120 agonist, may enhance the fatty orosensation by increasing the amount of saliva secreted.