Conclusions and outlook

Oral perception of dietary lipids is clearly multiparametric. Current research indicates that, alongside texture and olfaction, there is a gustatory dimension to this phenomenon in rodents and probably in humans. It is the VLCFAs that are detected by specialized receptor molecules located in the taste buds. In mice, CD36 acts as a taste lipid receptor, helping to meet the body's energy requirements by selecting and promoting the digestion of lipid nutrients. This novel function could provide a significant nutritional advantage in cases of chronic dietary restriction. In fact, lipid-rich foods are known to have a high energy density and to be the carriers of essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), whose biological roles are essential and multiple. On the other hand, lipids may contribute to the development of overweight in the case of a permanent food glut.