Sensory Study: Taste and Tongue Biology

Completed

• Conditions: Healthy Adults

• Registration Number: NCT05985928
• Lead Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Brief Summary

Researchers will investigate the correlation between a) self-reported dietary intake of foods and beverages, b) intensity of sucrose stimuli, and c) liking rating of sweet stimuli, with the relative expression of the taste receptor genes from human fungiform papillae (TAS1R2 and TAS1R3).

\* This research will provide new information on how sweet taste perception is regulated.

* The hypothesis: Greater dietary consumption of sugar and sweet foods is associated with reduced expression of the sweet taste receptors.

* The results of this study could help to identify pathways to help modify sweet taste perception by uncovering this mechanism.

Participants will sample solutions prepared with sweet ingredients, provide salivary DNA, and collect fungiform papillae. This will allow researchers and investigators to compare the relationship between the sweetness of stimuli, genetic differences in sweet taste receptors, and expression levels of sweet taste receptor genes.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2023-03-20
• Status Verified: 2023-05
• Primary Completion: 2023-05-20
• Study Completion: 2023-05-20
• Study First Submitted: 2023-07-13
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-08-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-08-02
• Study First Posted: 2023-08-14
• Last Update Posted: 2023-08-14

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 121

Inclusion Criteria

1. between 18 and 45 years old,
2. have no tongue or cheek piercings,
3. not a user of tobacco products or electronic cigarettes (within the last year),
4. no known defects in taste or smell,
5. not pregnant or breastfeeding,
6. no history of chronic pain in the mouth,
7. not taking any prescription pain medication,
8. not taking any blood thinners,
9. no history of cancer or cancer treatment,
10. not diabetic or restricting intake of sugars for medical reasons, under the direction of a physician or healthcare provider
11. willing to undergo the Fungiform Papillae biopsy procedure
12. willing to provide salivary DNA
13. Not currently experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms
14. Not recently diagnosed (in the last 30 days) with COVID-19
15. No history of high blood pressure

Exclusion Criteria

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Gene expression and sweet taste perception	Day 1 (single time-point)	The relative level of gene expression of sweet taste receptors (TAS1R2 and TAS1R3) and relationship with sweet taste perception (gLMS ratings of sampled sucrose)
Gene expression and sweet taste liking	Day 1 (single time-point)	The relative level of gene expression of sweet taste receptors (TAS1R2 and TAS1R3) and relationship with sweet taste perception (hedonic ratings of sampled sucrose)
Gene expression and dietary intake	Day 1 (single time-point)	The relative gene level expression of sweet taste receptors and relationship with self-reported dietary intake of sweet foods and beverages
Gene expression and sweet liker status	Day 1 (single time-point)	The relative gene level expression of sweet taste receptors and relationship with the self-reported liking of a variety of sweet foods and beverages

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Genetics and sweet liker status	Day 1 (single time-point)	Genetic variability in sweet taste receptor genes and the relationship with the self-reported liking of sweet-tasting foods and beverages
Genetics and sweet taste perception	Day 1 (single time-point)	Genetic variability in sweet taste receptor genes and the relationship with perception of sweet stimuli (gLMS intensity ratings)
Genetics and sweet taste liking	Day 1 (single time-point)	Genetic variability in sweet taste receptor genes and the relationship with hedonic ratings of sweet stimuli (hedonic ratings)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Massachusetts; 🇺🇸 Amherst, Massachusetts, United States