Excess sodium intake poses health risks, prompting the exploration of taste modulators to reduce the salt content in low-sodium foods yet maintain salty perception. Previous research found a subthreshold synergistic effect among pyroglutamyl dipeptides on saltiness enhancement. This study investigated the subthreshold synergistic effect of pyroglutamyl peptides and organic acids on saltiness perception. Pyroglutamyl dipeptides (pgluE, pgluV), pyroglutamyl tripeptides (pgluVL and pgluVC), and organic acids (malic acid and succinic acid) were explored in a model system and subsequently in commercial brown onion sauce. The detection thresholds of peptides (pgluE, pgluV, pgluVL, and pgluVC) were determined to be 646, 77, 273, and 221 μmol/L, respectively, and the subthreshold synergistic effect of the pyroglutamyl tripeptides and organic acids was determined using the isobologram method. One of the eight combinations of pyroglutamyl tripeptides with pyroglutamyl dipeptide (pgluV) showed a subthreshold synergistic effect, whereas four combinations of tripeptides with malic acid and one combination with succinic acid exhibited a subthreshold synergistic effect. In commercial brown onion sauce, 25 and 30% salt reductions were achieved using the combinations of the tripeptides with malic acid and succinic acid, respectively. This research lays the foundation for future investigations into the potential combinations of pyroglutamyl peptides and organic acids for saltiness enhancement in low-sodium foods.
Keywords: malic; organic acids; pyroglutamyl peptides; saltiness enhancement; succinic; synergistic effect.