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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05985928

Sensory Study: Taste and Tongue Biology

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Healthy Adults

Age range

18 year–45 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of Massachusetts

Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

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

Exclusion criteria

-

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Gene expression and sweet taste perception

    Time frame: 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)

  2. Gene expression and sweet taste liking

    Time frame: 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)

  3. Gene expression and dietary intake

    Time frame: 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

  4. Gene expression and sweet liker status

    Time frame: 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 outcomes

  1. Genetics and sweet taste perception

    Time frame: Day 1 (single time-point)

    Genetic variability in sweet taste receptor genes and the relationship with perception of sweet stimuli (gLMS intensity ratings)

  2. Genetics and sweet taste liking

    Time frame: Day 1 (single time-point)

    Genetic variability in sweet taste receptor genes and the relationship with hedonic ratings of sweet stimuli (hedonic ratings)

  3. Genetics and sweet liker status

    Time frame: 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

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Registry information

Acronym: SweetTaste

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Aug 14, 2023
Registry last updated
Aug 5, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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