Healthy Adults
Conditions
Keywords
sweet, genetics, gene expression, dietary intake, psychophysics
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.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Study design
Observational model
OTHER
Time perspective
OTHER
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
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
\-
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 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
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| 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) |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed