Measuring how much sugar people can taste
Assessing Taste Thresholds and Scores on Standardised Mood Questionnaires in Participants Without Mood Disorders
This study is testing how little sugar people can taste in water by having healthy volunteers try different sugar solutions on their tongues.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Ranvier Health Ltd Industry-sponsored |
| Locations | 1 site (Bristol, City Of Bristol) |
| Trial ID | NCT06697847 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study aims to determine the sweet threshold, or the lowest concentration of sucrose in water that healthy participants can detect as sweet. Participants will have solutions applied to their tongues using a cotton bud in a pseudo-randomized order. To ensure participants are healthy, they will complete mood questionnaires, including the PHQ9, BDI, and GAD-7. The data collected will be compared with sweet thresholds established in other populations using the same testing method.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are healthy adults aged 18 and over without any major depressive or anxiety disorders.
Not a fit: Patients currently taking antidepressants or those with significant mental or physical illnesses may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide valuable insights into taste perception that may inform dietary recommendations and health interventions.
How similar studies have performed: While this approach is not novel, it builds on existing methodologies for assessing taste thresholds, which have been used successfully in other studies.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: . Male and female adults of 18 years old and over; * Participants without a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) / anxiety disorder; * Participants not taking an antidepressant during the preceding 6 months * Not suffering from significant other mental or physical illness, such as confirmed psychosis, end of life care, or any other condition assessed as significant by the Site Investigator; * Willing and able to comply with all study-related procedures; * Not having COVID 19 or continuing effects of COVID 19 including altered sense of taste; * Understands the study requirements and the treatment procedures and is able to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Taking antidepressant medication currently or during the previous 6 months; * Known or suspected hypersensitivity or intolerance to any taste testing solutions, or any of their excipients; * A history or presence of neurological or confounding psychiatric conditions (such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, space occupying lesions, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, vascular dementia, transient ischemic attack, or schizophrenia); * Patients with a diagnosis of chronic pain; * Pregnancy or possibility pregnancy, or breastfeeding; * Participants using supplements containing psychoactive herbs (for example St Johns Wort or 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan, also known as oxitriptan); * Participants regularly using psychoactive stimulants (for example MDMA); * Participants unable or unwilling to comply with study procedures.
Where this trial is running
Bristol, City Of Bristol
- Westbury Lodge, Westbury Park — Bristol, City Of Bristol, United Kingdom (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: David Adams S Chief Investigator, MBChB
- Email: davidadams@ranvierhealth.com
- Phone: +44 759440372
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.