The Effect of Artificial Sweeteners (AFS) on Sweetness Sensitivity and Preference - Pilot (AFS_pilot)

The Effect of Artificial Sweeteners (AFS) on Sweetness Sensitivity and Preference - Pilot Study

The goal of this study is to test the hypothesis that repeated consumption of artificial sweetener reduces sweet taste intensity.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Impairment of Oral Perception
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Sucralose; Dietary supplement: Sucrose

Detailed Description

Significant controversy surrounds the possibility that consumption of artificial sweeteners (AFS) leads to weight gain. Some studies have found correlations between AFS use and weight gain and/or diabetes [1-4] while others have indicated that AFSs may aid in weight loss [5] or have no effects on body mass index (BMI) [6]. In rats, exposure to AFS leads to reduced chow intake following a sweet preload [7, 8], higher body weight [9, 10] and increased glucose responses and decreased GLP1 release following an oral glucose tolerance test [11] compared to exposure to caloric sweeteners. Given that the five FDA approved AFSs are found in thousands of foods [12] this marks a clear and significant gap in knowledge. Our preliminary data demonstrate a 3-fold decrease in sweet taste sensitivity following consumption of a beverage sweetened with two packets of Splenda for just 10 days. These data provide strong evidence that repeated exposure to sucralose reduces perception of sweet taste intensity, most likely by down-regulation of the sweet taste receptor. Therefore, it is imperative that we gain a greater understanding of the consequences of AFS use, since alterations in sweet taste perception that occur in response to AFS exposure may promote weight gain.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Connecticut
    • New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06519
      • The John B Pierce Laboratory

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 45 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy
• Fluent in English

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of oral nerve damage,
• presence of known taste or smell disorder,
• food allergies or sensitivities (for example nuts, lactose, artificial sweeteners),
• history of CNS disease,
• diabetes,
• history of DSM-IV major psychiatric disorder, including alcohol and substance abuse, chronic use of medication that may affect taste,
• conditions that may interfere with gustatory or olfactory perception (colds, seasonal allergies, recent smoking history),
• aberrant stimulus ratings,
• contra-indication for fMRI,
• uncomfortable swallowing in supine position.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Sucralose; Participants will rate sweetness, sourness, saltiness, bitterness and umami intensity of various taste stimuli. Next they will consume a flavored beverage with sucralose.	Dietary supplement: Sucralose; 2 packets per 12 fl oz
Experimental: Sucrose; Participants will rate sweetness, sourness, saltiness, bitterness and umami intensity of various taste stimuli. Next they will consume a flavored beverage with sucrose.	Dietary supplement: Sucrose; equisweet to sucralose

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Ratings of taste sensitivity	general labeled magnitude scale ratings of taste intensity	up to one week after intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Yale University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Dana M Small, The John B Pierce Laboratory, Yale University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: September 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 24, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 8, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): January 9, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): July 15, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 14, 2015
• Last Verified: July 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 0405026766-1