Umami and Satiety

This chapter evaluates evidence from human studies that umami taste may enhance satiety. The author elaborates on the idea that humans evolved umami taste to detect and regulate protein intake, providing wider evidence that protein intake is more tightly regulated than other macronutrients and discussing specific evidence that protein is the most satiating. Three strands of evidence that suggest umami may have a role in satiety are evaluated. (1) Evidence from key studies that tested acute effects of manipulated umami taste on satiety in adult volunteers suggests that umami may enhance satiety, especially when coupled with protein intake. (2) A review of studies exploring the role of umami in infant feeding suggests that augmenting umami taste in bottle-fed babies leads to slower growth, implying that the presence of umami taste leads to greater satiety. (3) Evidence from studies exploring responses to umami in relation to protein deprivation suggests that sensitivity to umami varies depending on both acute and habitual protein need state, consistent with a regulatory role for umami involving satiety. This chapter draws these strands of evidence together to suggest two possible models of umami-induced satiety while noting limitations in the data that warrant further investigation.