Sensory Study: Taste and Tongue Biology

Study Overview
=================
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.

Official Title
-----------------
Sensory Study: Taste and Tongue Biology

Conditions
-----------------
Healthy Adults

Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
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: -

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 45 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
No

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------
What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

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

Secondary Outcome Measures

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

 Terms related to the study
=================
Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
-----------------
sweet, genetics, gene expression, dietary intake, psychophysics