8 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Fat is the most energy dense macronutrient and consuming fat has been positively correlated to obesity. Individuals afflicted with obesity crave fat more frequently, have a higher preference for fatty taste, and consume a higher quantity of fatty foods. People who have undergone Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) or Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG) weight-loss surgeries dramatically decrease their fat preferences and consumption of fat, at least within the first year after surgery. These surgeries are very effective in helping people lose weight over the first couple of years; however, approximately 30% of those who undergo these surgeries start regaining weight after the second year mark. Why some people are able to keep the weight off long-term but others are unable to is unclear. In addition, it is well-known that fat can modify the flavor of foods and flavor plays a critical role in consumption, as well as in responses that gear up the body to consume the food. These are known as cephalic phase responses and include neural, physiological, and hormonal aspects. The main goals of the study are twofold: 1) To test the immediate effects of RYGB surgery, SG surgery, and laparoscopic gastric banding (LAGB) surgery (a weight loss control group) on fat preferences and sensory perception, and 2) to compare fat preferences and sensory perception between those who are able to achieve sustained weight loss 2-5 years after RYGB or SG surgery and those who either regained weight or did not lose the desired amount.
The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of common human variants in in taste related genes, such as CD36 gene, a putative fat taste receptor, affect fat taste perception.
The investigators seek to determine how genetics and the environment influence the ability to taste and smell fat. The investigators believe that people who consume higher fat diets and people who have higher body fat levels are less able to taste and smell fat. The investigators expect to see that people who are less able to taste and smell fat will share certain genetic differences.
Investigators are trying to find the concentrations of fatty acids ( a part of the fat and flavor typically found in normal foods) that have a taste intensity similar to that to the sourness of vinegar solutions.
This study will investigate fat taste and if free fatty acids (FFA) in food function as a signal for fat content. FFA are quite unpleasant - the investigators want to measure if the concentration in different foods correlates with hedonic preference. FFA concentration from a variety of foods will be used to determine if people who have greater sensitivity for FFA find foods with higher FFA concentrations less acceptable. Further, this study with determine whether the relationship between fat taste and hedonic food preference is modified by sex and body mass index (BMI).
This study will examine whether or not short, daily exposures change a person's ability to detect free fatty acids in a solution by its taste. Repeated exposure should improve a person's ability to detect free fatty acids.
There are many substances naturally present in the mouth that may help us taste fat in food. Two of these substances (lipases and CD36) will be examined in this study. The presence of fat in food increases food tastiness, therefore people often over-eat high-fat foods and gain weight. The purpose of this study is to determine if blocking lipases and some genetic variations in the CD36 gene will make fatty food less tasty so that people eat less. Our hypothesis is that Orlistat and a particular gene will increase one's ability to detect fat.
This study seeks to determine if non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) taste detection thresholds change with repeated testing. Threshold testing for NEFA taste has been reported by a number of laboratories, including our own; however, these studies have reported data for only one testing occasion. The investigators seek to conduct repeated testing to measure the test-retest reliability of these methods. The investigators believe that with repeated exposure to NEFA, a person's sensitivity increases. The investigators are also testing the efficiency of testing by two methods (forced-choice ascending trial versus staircase). Additionally, the association between taste responses, diet and BMI will be explored.