The Effect of Artificial Sweeteners (AFS) on Sweetness Sensitivity, Preference and Brain Response in Adults

Insulin Resistance Clinical Trial

— AFS-adult  

Official title:

The Effect of Artificial Sweeteners (AFS) on Sweetness Sensitivity, Preference and Brain Response in Adults

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT02335021
• Other study ID #: 0405026766-2
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 1, 2015
• Est. completion date: April 24, 2019

Study information

• Verified date: September 2019
• Source: Yale University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of dietary exposure to artificial sweeteners on taste sensitivity, preference and brain response in adults. The investigators hypothesize that dietary exposure to artificial sweeteners (sucralose) will decrease sensitivity to taste, shift preference of sweet and savory taste to a higher dose, and reduce brain response in amygdala to sweet taste compared to sucrose.

Description:

We aim to identify neural factors that contribute to taste intensity perception in humans and to determine environmental mechanisms that contribute to variation in taste sensitivity. Significant controversy surrounds the possibility that consumption of artificial sweeteners (AFS) leads to weight gain. Given that the five FDA approved AFSs are found in thousands of foods (Yang 2010) 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 physiological consequences of AFS, since alterations in sweet taste perception, metabolism and brain reward that occur in response to AFS exposure may promote weight gain.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 97
• Est. completion date: April 24, 2019
• Est. primary completion date: April 24, 2019
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 23 Years to 45 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy

• Fluent in English

• Right handed

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,

• discomfort or anxiety associated with insertion an intravenous catheter,

• regular artificial sweetener use.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Impairment of Oral Perception
• Insulin Resistance

Intervention

Dietary Supplement:
• Sucralose
2 packets per 12 fl oz
• Sucrose
equisweet to sucralose
• Sucralose + maltodextrin
sucralose plus equicaloric (to sucrose) maltodextrin
• Sucralose + Sucrose
half the amount of sucralose plus equicaloric sucrose

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Yale University	New Haven	Connecticut

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Yale University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Ratings of taste sensitivity	general labeled magnitude scale ratings of taste intensity	up to one week after intervention
Secondary	Ad libitum food intake	amount of Mac&Cheese consumed	up to one week after intervention
Secondary	brain response to taste stimuli	BOLD response as measured by fMRI	up to one week after intervention