A new method for differentiating the androstenone sensitivity among consumers

A preliminary investigation into a genetic basis for cis-3-hexen-1-ol odour perception: A genome-wide association approach

“…The latter can manifest as either enhanced sensitivity to an odorant (specific hyperosmia) or as a strongly reduced capacity to smell particular odorants. This diminished sensitivity, also known as specific anosmia, has been reported by several investigators and in connection with a range of odorants (e.g., Amoore, Venstrom, & Davis, 1968;Bremner, Mainland, Khan, & Sobel, 2003;Hirth, Abadanian, & Goedde, 1986;Kendal-Reed, Walker, Morgan, LaMacchio, & Lutz, 1998;Lison, Blondheim, & Melmed, 1980;Lunde, Skuterud, Nilsen, & Egelandsdal, 2008;Meilgaard, 1993;Pelosi & Pisanelli, 1981;Plotto, Barnes, & Goodner, 2006;Snyder, 1931), and recently the first reports confirming a genetic basis for differences in human olfactory phenotypes have emerged (Keller et al, 2007;Menashe et al, 2007). These reports extend previous work, notably twin studies by, for example, Finkel, Pedersen, and Larsson (2001), Segal, Topolski, Wilson, Brown, and Araki (1995), and Wysocki and Beauchamp (1984), indicating heritability in olfactory functioning.…”

Genetic Admixture and Flavor Preferences: Androstenone Sensitivity in Malagasy Populations

“…These percentages cannot be reliably compared with other studies, given the significant differences in methodologies for testing androstenone-sensitivity. Nevertheless, the percentage of anosmics in Malagasy populations appears to be at the lower value of the reported range, which is from 18% in USA to 74% in Norway (Bekaert et al, 2011;Blanch et al, 2012;Bremner et al, 2003;Lunde et al, 2009;Weiler et al, 2000;Wysocki and Beauchamp, 1984).…”

“…Individuals came from one of four distinct regions in Madagascar; 28 individuals were from Antananarivo, 28 from SainteMarie Island, 29 from the Mahajanga region and 33 from the Belo-sur-Tsiribihina region. Men and women have been repeatedly found to have different detection thresholds for androstenone (Bekaert et al, 2011;Blanch et al, 2012;Bremner et al, 2003;Lunde et al, 2009;Weiler et al, 2000;Wysocki and Beauchamp, 1984). We chose to focus on men, because smell perception in women might be affected by their hormonal cycle and use of oral contraceptives (Renfro and Hoffmann 2013); our aim was to only study the effect of OR7D4 polymorphisms.…”

The importance of the recruitment method for androstenone sensitivity with respect to accurate sensory evaluation of androstenone tainted meat

“…Skatole is perceived by 99% of the consumers and regarded as unpleasant (Weiler, Fischer, Kemmer, Dobrowolski, & Claus, 1997), while the ability to perceive androstenone varies among consumers (Wysocki & Beauchamp, 1984). Many consumers are insensitive to androstenone, but some consumers are highly sensitive and will react negatively upon exposure (Kline, Schwartz, & Dikman, 2006;Lunde, Skuterud, Nilsen, & Egelandsdal, 2009;Weiler et al, 2000). Recent research has shown that the human odorant receptor, OR7D4, is involved in the ability to perceive androstenone.…”

“…All samples in that study contained combinations of both skatole and androstenone, with the low skatole group containing 60.10 ppm skatole. Results have shown that sensory assessors are able to detect skatole as low as 0.10 ppm (Bañón, Costa, Gil, & Garrido, 2003;Font I Furnols, Guerrero, Serra, Rius, & Oliver, 2000;Lunde et al, 2009). Using samples containing both compounds may therefore contribute to confusion between these compounds.…”