Human Oral Detection of Glucose Olygomers

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Although salivary contents play a major role in the early stage of food digestion process, their role in taste perception of glucose polymers is essentially unknown. It is hypothesized that the differences in salivary contents, more specifically salivary amylase concentration and activity, influence taste perception of glucose polymers and ultimately eating behavior, which is related to risks in various diseases. The current project will investigate the variation in salivary contents across individuals and its role in taste perception of glucose polymers.

Official Title
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The Role of Salivary Contents in Taste Perception of Starch and Its Hydrolysis Products

Conditions
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Healthy Volunteers

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Acarbose


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: self-reported healthy adults between the ages of 18-60 who are fluent in English. Exclusion Criteria: adults 61 years old and above smokers pregnant women taking any prescription pain/ insulin medication has a history of taste or smell loss or other oral disorders (e.g., burning mouth syndrome) has current oral lesions, canker sores, or piercings has a history of food allergy

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Acarbose<br>Acarbose solution will be swabbed on the tip of the tongue to inhibit salivary alpha amylase activity; each swab will contain  484 microgram acarbose; total maximum exposure of each subject to acarbose will be  14-30 mg each session (1-20 sessions) | Drug: Acarbose<br>* Acarbose solution will be swabbed on the tip of the tongue to inhibit salivary alpha amylase activity; each swab will contain  484 microgram acarbose; total maximum exposure of each subject to acarbose will be  14-30 mg each session (1-20 sessions)<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Detection of glucose polymers in the presence of acarbose | There is only one outcome measure, that is the detection of glucose polymers. Subjects will be asked to discriminate a target sample (glucose polymers). Three samples will be applied using cotton swabs on the subjects' tongue (one at a time): 2 blanks (water + acarbose) and 1 target stimuli (glucose polymer solution + acarbose). Subjects will be asked to identify the target sample. The number of subjects who correctly identify the target stimuli will be counted and will be statistically analyzed to determine whether glucose polymer can be detected without the confounding effect of salivary alpha amylase hydrolysis. | up to 5 years |