Taste QualitiesNCT02390180
Sorting of Oral Sensations
An observational study of Taste Qualities and Primary Tastes, run by Purdue University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Recent research indicates that fatty acids in food may have a taste. There is no lexicon to describe the sensation of the fatty acids, but participants frequently describe the sensation as bitter or sour. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Taste Qualities, Primary Tastes
- What is being tested?
- Tasting solutions
- How many people
- 107 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Oct 2014to Mar 2015
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Healthy men and women at least 18 years of age, not on any medication that alters taste sensation, and not allergic to dairy or nut products (samples contained a dairy protein and some sugars that were processed in facilities that also process nuts). Participants also had to pass a screening test to determine they could detect 0.5% linoleic acid emulsion compared to a blank solution.
Who may be able to join
- Healthy (self report), normal taste function
Who cannot join
- Medication that alters taste sensation, failed to detect 0.5% linoleic acid emulsion, allergic to dairy or nuts
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Recent research indicates that fatty acids in food may have a taste. There is no lexicon to describe the sensation of the fatty acids, but participants frequently describe the sensation as bitter or sour. The proposed study will ask participants who have been screened for their ability to detect fatty acids to sort a variety of taste stimuli, including sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami, and fatty acid tastes. Observing how the participants sort the stimuli will allow us to determine if the fatty acid taste is unique from other taste sensations.
Read the detailed description
Panelists will be screened for their ability to discriminate 0.5% linoleic acid emulsion from the blank using two sequential tetrad tests. Panelists will wear nose clips during the tests. Panelists must successfully complete both tetrads in order to qualify for the study. Panelists who qualify for the full study will provide written informed consent as well as data on their ethnic background, age, and their habitual fat intake. Heights and weights will be measured.
After completing the screening tests and the demographic questions, panelists will receive 15 samples (for the first group: "All tastes sorting") or 12 samples (for the second group: "Bitters sorting"). When panelists receive the samples, they will be instructed to put on nose clips and keep the clips on for the duration of the test. Participants will be provided with water for rinsing their mouths as well as a cup to spit the samples into after tasting. Panelists will be provided with more water and additional spit cups as necessary. Next, panelists will be instructed to: "Taste each sample, spit it into the spit cup, and rinse with water. Then, sort the samples into groups you believe are similar. Groups may contain as many or as few samples as you desire. You may have as many or as few groups as you desire." Once they have decided on their groups, they will write in a description for each group and rate the group for its overall similarity. After finishing this initial sorting task, if panelists have more than two total groups, they will be instructed to select the two groups they believe are most similar to each other and combine them. If panelists still have more than two total groups, they will be instructed to combine the two most similar groups again. This will continue until panelists only have two groups remaining. At each level, panelists will rate the new, combined group for its overall similarity on a visual analog scale, as before.
Data from this sorting task will be compiled in to dissimilarity matrices for each participant, showing how many groups it took them before each sample was combined with each other sample. This data will be analyzed to determine if the fatty acid samples are similar or unique in sensation from other taste qualities.
- Conditions
- Taste Qualities, Primary Tastes
- Being tested
- Tasting solutions
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Tasting solutionsOther
Participants will taste a variety of food grade compounds including: hexenoic acid, decenoic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, glucose, fructose, salt, citric acid, acetic acid, quinine, urea, caffeine, sucrose octaacetate, propylthiouracil, phenylthiocarbamide, monosodium glutamate, and inosine monophosphate.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Sorting all tastes | This group will receive 15 samples to taste and sort into groups. The samples included: a blank solution, hexenoic acid, decenoic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, glucose, fructose, sodium chloride (2), citric acid, acetic acid, quinine, urea, monosodium glutamate, and inosine monophosphate. Receives: Other: Tasting solutions | |
| Sorting bitter tastes | This group will receive 12 samples to taste and sort into groups. The samples included: blank solutions (2), decenoic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, quinine (2), urea (2),caffeine, sucrose octaacetate, and propylthiouracil. Receives: Other: Tasting solutions |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Similarity of taste sensations
Participants sort the solutions into groups, and then combine the groups based on which samples are similar in oral sensation. This is used to determine how similar or different each sample is from the others. We are primarily interested in how the fatty acids (hexenoic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and decenoic acid) are sorted, and whether they are distinct from other tastes.
Measured: 1 visit (only visit)
Secondary outcomes (4)
Effect of dietary fat on taste sensation sorting
Dietary records will be used to classify participants' diets as high or low in fat. The analysis of similarity among samples will be repeated and compared between these two groups. We are primarily interested in how the fatty acids (hexenoic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and decenoic acid) are sorted, and whether they are distinct from other tastes.
Measured: 1 visit (only visit)
Effect of genetic ability to taste propylthiouracil on taste sensation sorting
Participants will be classified by their ability to taste 6-n-propylthiouracil (using filter papers wil phenylthiocarbamide and using data from sorting the bitter compounds). Tasters and non-tasters of this compound will be compared in their sorting of the different solutions. This will be done for the Sorting Bitter tastes group only. We are primarily interested in how the fatty acids (hexenoic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and decenoic acid) are sorted, and whether they are distinct from other tastes.
Measured: 1 visit (only visit)
Effect of gender on taste sensation sorting
Sorting patterns by males and females will be compared as well. We are primarily interested in how the fatty acids (hexenoic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and decenoic acid) are sorted, and whether they are distinct from other tastes.
Measured: 1 visit (only visit)
Effect of BMI on taste sensation sorting
Sorting patterns by lean, overweight, and obese participants will be compared as well, using the data collected on height and weight to calculate body mass index. We are primarily interested in how the fatty acids (hexenoic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and decenoic acid) are sorted, and whether they are distinct from other tastes.
Measured: 1 visit (only visit)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted17 Mar 2015 (estimated)
- Study startOct 2014
- Primary completionMar 2015
- Study completionMar 2015
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Taste QualitiesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 107 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Purdue University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Richard Mattes, Purdue University
- Investigators
- Richard D Mattes, PhD, Principal investigator, Purdue University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02390180
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 055040
- Status last verified
- May 2015
- First submitted
- 10 Mar 2015
- Last updated
- 12 May 2015
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 12 May 2015. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Sorting of Oral Sensations
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02390180
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 055040
- Conditions
- Taste Qualities, Primary Tastes
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 107 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Purdue UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Oct 2014
- Primary completion
- Mar 2015 (actual)
- Study completion
- Mar 2015 (actual)
- First posted
- 17 Mar 2015 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Recent research indicates that fatty acids in food may have a taste. There is no lexicon to describe the sensation of the fatty acids, but participants frequently describe the sensation as bitter or sour. The proposed study will ask participants who have been screened for their ability to detect fatty acids to sort a variety of taste stimuli, including sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami, and fatty acid tastes. Observing how the participants sort the stimuli will allow us to determine if the fatty acid taste is unique from other taste sensations.
Detailed description
Panelists will be screened for their ability to discriminate 0.5% linoleic acid emulsion from the blank using two sequential tetrad tests. Panelists will wear nose clips during the tests. Panelists must successfully complete both tetrads in order to qualify for the study. Panelists who qualify for the full study will provide written informed consent as well as data on their ethnic background, age, and their habitual fat intake. Heights and weights will be measured.
After completing the screening tests and the demographic questions, panelists will receive 15 samples (for the first group: "All tastes sorting") or 12 samples (for the second group: "Bitters sorting"). When panelists receive the samples, they will be instructed to put on nose clips and keep the clips on for the duration of the test. Participants will be provided with water for rinsing their mouths as well as a cup to spit the samples into after tasting. Panelists will be provided with more water and additional spit cups as necessary. Next, panelists will be instructed to: "Taste each sample, spit it into the spit cup, and rinse with water. Then, sort the samples into groups you believe are similar. Groups may contain as many or as few samples as you desire. You may have as many or as few groups as you desire." Once they have decided on their groups, they will write in a description for each group and rate the group for its overall similarity. After finishing this initial sorting task, if panelists have more than two total groups, they will be instructed to select the two groups they believe are most similar to each other and combine them. If panelists still have more than two total groups, they will be instructed to combine the two most similar groups again. This will continue until panelists only have two groups remaining. At each level, panelists will rate the new, combined group for its overall similarity on a visual analog scale, as before.
Data from this sorting task will be compiled in to dissimilarity matrices for each participant, showing how many groups it took them before each sample was combined with each other sample. This data will be analyzed to determine if the fatty acid samples are similar or unique in sensation from other taste qualities.
Study design
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Sorting all tastes | – | Other: Tasting solutionsThis group will receive 15 samples to taste and sort into groups. The samples included: a blank solution, hexenoic acid, decenoic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, glucose, fructose, sodium chloride (2), citric acid, acetic acid, quinine, urea, monosodium glutamate, and inosine monophosphate. |
| Sorting bitter tastes | – | Other: Tasting solutionsThis group will receive 12 samples to taste and sort into groups. The samples included: blank solutions (2), decenoic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, quinine (2), urea (2),caffeine, sucrose octaacetate, and propylthiouracil. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Healthy men and women at least 18 years of age, not on any medication that alters taste sensation, and not allergic to dairy or nut products (samples contained a dairy protein and some sugars that were processed in facilities that also process nuts). Participants also had to pass a screening test to determine they could detect 0.5% linoleic acid emulsion compared to a blank solution.
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Healthy (self report), normal taste function
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Medication that alters taste sensation, failed to detect 0.5% linoleic acid emulsion, allergic to dairy or nuts
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Tasting solutionsParticipants will taste a variety of food grade compounds including: hexenoic acid, decenoic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, glucose, fructose, salt, citric acid, acetic acid, quinine, urea, caffeine, sucrose octaacetate, propylthiouracil, phenylthiocarbamide, monosodium glutamate, and inosine monophosphate. | Other | Sorting all tastes, Sorting bitter tastes |
Primary outcome
Similarity of taste sensations
Time frame: 1 visit (only visit)
Participants sort the solutions into groups, and then combine the groups based on which samples are similar in oral sensation. This is used to determine how similar or different each sample is from the others. We are primarily interested in how the fatty acids (hexenoic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and decenoic acid) are sorted, and whether they are distinct from other tastes.
4 secondary outcomes
Effect of dietary fat on taste sensation sorting
Time frame: 1 visit (only visit)
Effect of genetic ability to taste propylthiouracil on taste sensation sorting
Time frame: 1 visit (only visit)
Effect of gender on taste sensation sorting
Time frame: 1 visit (only visit)
Effect of BMI on taste sensation sorting
Time frame: 1 visit (only visit)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 12 May 2015.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Richard D Mattes, PhD principal investigator
Purdue University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Taste Qualities and Primary Tastes, run by Purdue University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 May 2015. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Similarity of taste sensations (time frame: 1 visit (only visit)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 12 May 2015.