Structure-dependent effects of sweet and sweet taste affecting compounds on their sensorial properties

Abstract A reduction in sugar consumption is desirable from a health point of view. However, the sensory profiles of alternative sweet-tasting compounds differ from sucrose regarding their temporal profile and undesired side tastes, reducing consumers’ acceptance. The present study describes a sensory characterisation of a variety of sweet and sweet taste affecting compounds, followed by a comparison of similarity to sucrose and a multivariate regression analysis, to investigate structural determinants and possible interactions for the temporal profile of the sweetness and side-tastes. The results of the present study suggest a pivotal role for the number of ketones, aromatic rings, double bonds and the M LogP in the temporal profile of sweet and sweet taste affecting compounds. Furthermore, interactions between aggregated physicochemical descriptors demonstrate the complexity of the sensory response, which should be considered in future models to predict a comprehensive sensory profile of sweet and sweet taste affecting compounds.