Taste Physiology in Healthy, Normal-weight Volunteers

University Hospital Basel

Status: Completed

Conditions: Exploratory Behavior

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Single intragastric instillation of 1 g monosodium glutamate in 200 mL tap water via nasogastric tube; Dietary Supplement: Single intragastric instillation of 200 mL tap water via nasogastric tube; Dietary Supplement: Single intragastric instillation of 0.017 g quinine in 200 mL tap water via nasogastric tube; Dietary Supplement: Single intragastric instillation of 2 g citric acid in 200 mL tap water via nasogastric tube; Dietary Supplement: Single intragastric instillation of 25 g glucose in 200 mL tap water via nasogastric tube; Dietary Supplement: Single intragastric instillation of 2 g salt in 200 mL tap water via nasogastric tube

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02255812

EKBB 289/12/2

Details and patient eligibility

About

Taste physiology describes five main taste qualities in humans: sweet, sour, salty, umami and bitter. The receptors found on the tongue are also found in the entire gut. The correlation of stimulation of these gut receptors and brain activity has not yet been examined. The objectives are to investigate the effect of different taste substances on i) regional brain activity and ii) satiation peptide release.

Enrollment: 12 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• right-handed healthy males
• Body-mass index of < 25
• Age 18-45 years
• no drugs
• non-smoking

Exclusion criteria

• Smoking
• Substance abuse
• Regular intake of medications (except for oral contraceptives)
• Medical or psychiatric illness, especially: diabetes, pace-maker, claustrophobia
• History of gastrointestinal disorders
• Food allergies, glutamate intolerance
• Body piercings that cannot be removed

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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12 participants in 6 patient groups, including a placebo group

200 mL tap water

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Single intragastric instillation of 200 mL tap water via nasogastric tube

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Single intragastric instillation of 200 mL tap water via nasogastric tube

2 g citric acid

Active Comparator group

Description:

Single intragastric instillation of 2 g citric acid in 200 mL tap water via nasogastric tube

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Single intragastric instillation of 2 g citric acid in 200 mL tap water via nasogastric tube

2 g salt

Active Comparator group

Description:

Single intragastric instillation of 2 g salt in 200 mL tap water via nasogastric tube

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Single intragastric instillation of 2 g salt in 200 mL tap water via nasogastric tube

0.017 g quinine

Active Comparator group

Description:

Single intragastric instillation of 0.017 g quinine in 200 mL tap water via nasogastric tube

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Single intragastric instillation of 0.017 g quinine in 200 mL tap water via nasogastric tube

1 g monosodium glutamate

Active Comparator group

Description:

Single intragastric instillation of 1 g monosodium glutamate in 200 mL tap water via nasogastric tube

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Single intragastric instillation of 1 g monosodium glutamate in 200 mL tap water via nasogastric tube

25 g glucose

Active Comparator group

Description:

Single intragastric instillation of 25 g glucose in 200 mL tap water via nasogastric tube

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Single intragastric instillation of 25 g glucose in 200 mL tap water via nasogastric tube