Clinical trial NCT02699567: CD36 and Human Fat Taste Perception
Official title: CD36 Involvement on Fat Taste Perception and Fat Hedonic Value in Humans
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Obesity
Keywords: taste perception
individual differences
fat
genetics
Lead sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Monell Chemical Senses Center
First posted: 2016-03-04
Enrollment: 97
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 21
Maximum age (years): 50
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Subjects will be men and women, 21 to 50 yrs of age of all races and ethnic groups. The two groups (i.e. groups with different CD36 genetic variants) will be matched as closely as possible in age, sex, body mass index and race distributions. Subject population will consist of lean subjects (BMI \>18-\<25 kg/m2) and subjects with obesity (BMI \>29.9 kg/m2).

Brief summary: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of common human variants in in taste related genes, such as CD36 gene, a putative fat taste receptor, affect fat taste perception.

Detailed description: At present, the general agreement is that humans perceive five taste qualities: sweet, sour, bitter, salty and umami (the savory, meaty taste of some amino acids). It is believed that these qualities evolved to help us find nutrients (e.g. sweets, umami signaled calories) and avoid potential harmful substances (e.g. bitter signalized poison). Despite the fact that some fats, which can only be obtained through the diet, are essential for life, fat is not considered a basic taste; and, the issue of how fats are precisely sensed is unresolved. However, increasing evidence suggests that, in addition to smell and texture, taste plays an important role in fat perception. Putative fat taste receptor classes have been identified in animal models. One such receptor is the glycoprotein CD36, previously documented to be involved in trafficking and storage of fat. CD36 was recently found in rodents' and humans' taste buds. In rodents, CD36 deletion blunts specifically fat recognition. Although CD36 variants are frequent in humans, its role in humans' fat taste perception and preferences remains incompletely understood and will be the focus of the current proposal. The main goal of this study is to determine the effect of a common human variant in the CD36 gene on fat taste perception by using standardized sensory evaluation techniques. In addition, we will examine whether common variants in taste related genes (other than CD36) are associated with individual differences in the perception of flavors of milkshakes prepared with different amounts of fats.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* BMI \>18-\<25 kg/m2 or BMI\>29.9 kg/m2.
* 21 to 50 years of age

Exclusion Criteria:

* Previous malabsorptive or restrictive gastrointestinal surgery
* Smoking
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding
* Diabetes
* Taking medication that might affect taste perception

Primary outcomes:
measure: Scores in the general labeled magnitude scale for fat flavor intensity
timeFrame: One to 12 weeks following screening
measure: Scores in the hedonic general labeled magnitude scale for fat flavor hedonic value
timeFrame: One to 12 weeks following screening
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Number of participants who are PROP taster as assessed by sip and spit testing procedure of water with increasing PROP concentrations.
timeFrame: One to 12 weeks following screening
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Saint Louis
country: United States
facility: Washington University School of Medicine
state: Missouri
Study officials:
affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine
name: Marta Y Pepino de Gruev, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: