Nitrate affect taste

Abstract Background Nitrate, an inorganic anion found in various foods and saliva, emerged as a potential prebiotic for oral microbiome. Through the entero-salivary cycle, salivary glands accumulated nitrate from the blood stream and released it into the oral cavity via the anion transporter sialin SLC17A5. Dietary nitrate supplements could affect both nitrate-metabolising and other bacteria in the oral cavity favouring genera like Rothia and Neisseria while reducing genera like Streptococcus, Veillonella, Prevotella, and Actinomyces. Given the proximity between oral microbiome and taste buds, it was hypothesised that taste perception may adapt to changes in the oral microbiome. This preliminary study aimed to investigate the effects of nitrate supplementation on taste responses. Participants would undergo taste tests before, during, and after a nitrate supplementation period, assessing their ability to detect different taste stimuli. By examining the potential impact of nitrate supplementation on taste responses, this study sought to further elucidate the intricate relationship between the oral microbiome and human sensory perception.