An interventional study of Exercise and Rest in Appetite, Taste, Altered and Exercise, sponsored by University College Dublin. Completed at 1 site in Ireland. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 40 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-10-19.
Sponsored by University College Dublin · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
Some evidence suggests that taste perception might be modulated by physical exercise, with differences observed after aerobic exercise (DOI:10.1093/chemse/23.4.417) and with habitual exercise (DOI:10.3390/nu11010155). However, the effects of resistance exercise on taste perception has not been studied. This knowledge is important as it may impact the acceptability of foods consumed after exercise.
While plant-protein supplement powders are gaining increased popularity, their palatability and, thereby, acceptability may be a shortcoming. This randomised crossover trial aims to investigate (1) the taste perception and acceptability of plant protein supplement powders and (2) whether resistance exercise modulates taste perception and appetite responses to plant protein.
Phase 1 (part 1): A randomised crossover trial, involving 15-20 adult men (aged 18-40 years old). Two conditions (resistance exercise or rest) will be undertaken in randomised order.
Participants will be required to attend three tests visits. The first visit will last approximately 2 hours and involves signing informed consent, body composition assessment (BodPod), strength tests (3-Repetition Maximum) and completion of questionnaires.
The second and third visits are the experimental test visits (exercise or rest) and will last approximately 4 hours each. Individuals will arrive at the laboratory two hours after consuming a standardized breakfast.
Participants will be provided with eight food-grade samples and asked to complete a battery of questionnaires to evaluate taste perception and liking (visual analogue scales (VAS), generalised labelled magnitude scale (gLMS), 9-point Likert scale). The eight samples are: (1) sucrose (2) umami (3) soy protein (4) pea protein (5) hemp protein (6) brown rice (7) whey protein and (8) apple juice. Each sample will be served as a 20-mL-solution. Except for sucrose and umami (in water), the protein-based samples will be served in low sugar apple juice. Subjects will taste the samples in a "sip-and-spit" manner. Each solution will be designated by a 3-digit number and they will be provided in a randomized order.
Participants will then undergo approximately 1 hour of rest (control) or resistance exercise conditions, after which they will repeat an identical tasting session of the 8 samples.
The resistance exercise will be composed of the 4 exercises, that will be performed at a high-to-medium intensity (75% of the maximum calculated), intensity represented by 10 estimated repetitions. Four sets of each exercise will be assisted by the investigator.
Phase 1 (part 2): The second part of each test visit (exercise or rest) involves the participant consuming a soy protein drink (30g soy protein powder, according to most of the manufacturer's recommendation) solubilized in 200ml low-sugar apple juice (to increase palatability). After an hour of rest, the participant will then be served an ad libitum lunch meal (pasta bake with tomato sauce and cheese, strawberry yogurt and water). Appetite will be assessed both during rest and after the lunch meal via VAS.
Saliva samples will also be collected at three time-points during the test visit to provide insight into potential mechanisms contributing to alterations in taste perception and appetite.
Phase 2: Part 1 is extended to 15-20 adult female participants (18-40 years old) to provide insight into any potential sex differences in findings. The eight samples tested are identical except brown rice protein is replaced with clear protein isolate (a form of hydrolysed pea protein).
52 studies on the registry are indexed under Dysgeusia; 12 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 29 is below the median of 49 across 28 interventional studies indexed under Dysgeusia.
Browse Dysgeusia studies →University College Dublin is the lead sponsor of 113 studies on the registry; 32 are open to participants now.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Resistance exercise involves 4 exercises (bench pull, bench press, leg extension and unilateral leg press), that are performed at 75% of maximum, determined from 3-RM test.
Other: Exercise
One hour rest.
Other: Rest
The total volume of exercise is 40 repetitions of each of the 4 exercises. The participant is instructed to perform a maximum of 10 repetitions each set, with 1'30'' rest between sets and between exercises. The researcher provides instructions and verbal encouragement. The total duration of the exercise bout is between 1 hour and 1 hour and 15 minutes. Part 1: Before and after the exercise condition the participant is sampling 8 different samples: (1) sucrose (2) umami (3) soy protein (4) pea protein (5) hemp protein (6) brown rice (7) whey protein and (8) apple juice. All protein sources are 3 grams dissolved in 20ml apple juice. Sucrose is 1.66g in 20ml water and umami tastant is 0.09g in 20ml water. Part 2: a 30g soy protein bolus in 200ml apple juice is given to the participant. After 1 hour energy intake is assessed with an ad libitum lunch meal.
The participant remains in sedentary activities such as reading or using a laptop. Part 1: Before and after the rest condition the participant is sampling 8 different samples: (1) sucrose (2) umami (3) soy protein (4) pea protein (5) hemp protein (6) brown rice (7) whey protein and (8) apple juice. All protein sources are 3 grams dissolved in 20ml apple juice. Sucrose is 1.66g in 20ml water and umami tastant is 0.09g in 20ml water. Part 2: a 30g soy protein bolus in 200ml apple juice is given to the participant. After 1 hour energy intake is assessed with an ad libitum lunch meal.
Part 1: Change in Taste Intensity
Taste intensity from Generalised Labelled Magnitude Scale (gLMS) Validated 200 millimetre scales will be used to assess intensity of the taste of each sample. This scale has anchors located at each end of the scale and along the scale (barely detectable, weak, moderate, strong, very strong, strongest imaginable). On the bottom end of the scale, the extreme negative response (0 mm) is represented, while the top end (200 mm) represents the positive response. Participants mark along the line where it most represents their subjective perception between both ends.
Time frame: 2 hours: (1) baseline sampling session, (2) post-intervention sampling session (i.e. after 1 hour resistance training or rest).
Part 1: Change in Liking of the samples
9-point Likert Scale to rate overall liking of each sample, from 0 (dislike extremely) to 9 (like extremely).
Time frame: 2 hours: (1) baseline sampling session, (2) post-intervention sampling session (i.e. after 1 hour resistance training or rest). Change scores will be compared between exercise and rest condition.
Part 2: Change in Appetite - Composite Appetite Score
Validated 100 millimetre Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) will be used to assess appetite, at six (6) set time points throughout the experimental visit. This VAS has anchors located at each end of the scale. On the left end of the scale, the extreme negative response (0 mm) is represented, while the right end (100 mm) represents the positive response. Participants mark along the line where it most represents their subjective perception between both ends. Composite Appetite Score derived from aspects such as hunger, fullness, desire to eat and prospective food consumption will be calculated.
Time frame: 3.5 hours: (1) at participant arrival, (2) after exercise or resting condition (3) immediately after the protein bolus (4) 30 minutes after the protein bolus (5) 60 minutes after the protein bolus (6) after the lunch meal
Part 2: Energy Intake
Energy intake measurement. Participants will be given a standardised fixed breakfast to be eaten at home 2 hours prior the testing visit. At the end of the testing visit participants will be served with ad libitum lunch meal in the laboratory. Lunch EI (kilocalories) will be measured objectively, by weighing foods before and after consumption and calculating energy intake based on their nutritional data. EI will be compared between exercise and rest conditions
Time frame: Day 2 and Day 3
Part 2: changes in cortisol
Saliva sample will be collected by passive drooling three (3) times.
Time frame: 3 hours: (1) immediately after participant arrival, (2) after exercise or rest, (3) 1 hour after exercise or rest (i.e. immediately before the lunch meal)
Part 2: changes in testosterone
Saliva sample will be collected by passive drooling three (3) times.
Time frame: 3 hours: (1) immediately after participant arrival, (2) after exercise or rest, (3) 1 hour after exercise or rest (i.e. immediately before the lunch meal)
Part 2: Palatability - Pleasantness
100 millimetre Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) will be used immediately after the protein bolus and the lunch meal. This VAS has anchors located at each end of the scale. On the left end of the scale (0 mm), the extreme negative response is represented, while the right end (100 mm) represents the positive response. Participants mark along the line where it most represents their subjective perception between both ends. Data will be compared between exercise and rest conditions.
Time frame: Day 2 and Day 3
Part 2: Palatability - Filling
100 millimetre Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) will be used immediately after the protein bolus and the lunch meal. This VAS has anchors located at each end of the scale. On the left end of the scale (0 mm), the extreme negative response is represented, while the right end (100 mm) represents the positive response. Participants mark along the line where it most represents their subjective perception between both ends.Data will be compared between exercise and rest conditions.
Time frame: Day 2 and Day 3
Part 2: Palatability - Satisfaction
100 millimetre Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) will be used immediately after the protein bolus and the lunch meal. This VAS has anchors located at each end of the scale. On the left end of the scale (0 mm), the extreme negative response is represented, while the right end (100 mm) represents the positive response. Participants mark along the line where it most represents their subjective perception between both ends.Data will be compared between exercise and rest conditions.
Time frame: Day 2 and Day 3
Part 2: Palatability - Taste
100 millimetre Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) will be used immediately after the protein bolus and the lunch meal. This VAS has anchors located at each end of the scale. On the left end of the scale (0 mm), the extreme negative response is represented, while the right end (100 mm) represents the positive response. Participants mark along the line where it most represents their subjective perception between both ends.Data will be compared between exercise and rest conditions.
Time frame: Day 2 and Day 3
Part 2: Palatability - Sweet
100 millimetre Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) will be used immediately after the protein bolus and the lunch meal. This VAS has anchors located at each end of the scale. On the left end of the scale (0 mm), the extreme negative response is represented, while the right end (100 mm) represents the positive response. Participants mark along the line where it most represents their subjective perception between both ends.Data will be compared between exercise and rest conditions.
Time frame: Day 2 and Day 3
Part 2: Palatability - Savoury
100 millimetre Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) will be used immediately after the protein bolus and the lunch meal. This VAS has anchors located at each end of the scale. On the left end of the scale (0 mm), the extreme negative response is represented, while the right end (100 mm) represents the positive response. Participants mark along the line where it most represents their subjective perception between both ends. Data will be compared between exercise and rest conditions.
Time frame: Day 2 and Day 3
Part 2: Changes in Hunger
Validated 100 millimetre Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) will be used to estimate changes in appetite, at six (6) set time points throughout the experimental visit. This VAS has anchors located at each end of the scale. On the left end of the scale, the extreme negative response (0 mm) is represented, while the right end (100 mm) represents the positive response. Participants mark along the line where it most represents their subjective perception between both ends. Data will be compared between exercise and rest conditions.
Time frame: 3.5 hours: (1) at participant arrival, (2) after exercise or resting condition (3) immediately after the protein bolus (4) 30 minutes after the protein bolus (5) 60 minutes after the protein bolus (6) after lunch. Mixed model ANOVA will be used.
Part 2: Changes in Fullness
Validated 100 millimetre Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) will be used to estimate changes in appetite, at six (6) set time points throughout the experimental visit. This VAS has anchors located at each end of the scale. On the left end of the scale, the extreme negative response (0 mm) is represented, while the right end (100 mm) represents the positive response. Participants mark along the line where it most represents their subjective perception between both ends. Data will be compared between exercise and rest conditions.
Time frame: 3.5 hours: (1) at participant arrival, (2) after exercise or resting condition (3) immediately after the protein bolus (4) 30 minutes after the protein bolus (5) 60 minutes after the protein bolus (6) after lunch. Mixed model ANOVA will be used.
Part 2: Changes in Desire to Eat
Validated 100 millimetre Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) will be used to estimate changes in appetite, at six (6) set time points throughout the experimental visit. This VAS has anchors located at each end of the scale. On the left end of the scale, the extreme negative response (0 mm) is represented, while the right end (100 mm) represents the positive response. Participants mark along the line where it most represents their subjective perception between both ends. Data will be compared between exercise and rest conditions.
Time frame: 3.5 hours: (1) at participant arrival, (2) after exercise or resting condition (3) immediately after the protein bolus (4) 30 minutes after the protein bolus (5) 60 minutes after the protein bolus (6) after lunch. Mixed model ANOVA will be used.
Part 2: Changes in Prospective Food Consumption
Validated 100 millimetre Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) will be used to estimate changes in appetite, at six (6) set time points throughout the experimental visit. This VAS has anchors located at each end of the scale. On the left end of the scale, the extreme negative response (0 mm) is represented, while the right end (100 mm) represents the positive response. Participants mark along the line where it most represents their subjective perception between both ends. Data will be compared between exercise and rest conditions.
Time frame: 3.5 hours: (1) at participant arrival, (2) after exercise or resting condition (3) immediately after the protein bolus (4) 30 minutes after the protein bolus (5) 60 minutes after the protein bolus (6) after lunch. Mixed model ANOVA will be used.
Part 1: Changes in Sensory Perception - Visual Appeal
Validated 100 millimetre Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) will be used to assess sensory perception during two sampling session (8 times each sampling session). This VAS has anchors located at each end of the scale. On the left end of the scale, the extreme negative response (0 mm) is represented, while the right end (100 mm) represents the positive response. Participants mark along the line where it most represents their subjective perception between both ends. Change scores will be compared between exercise and rest conditions.
Time frame: 2 hours: (1) baseline sampling session, (2) post-intervention sampling session (i.e. after 1 hour resistance training or rest)
Part 1: Changes in Sensory Perception - Smell
Validated 100 millimetre Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) will be used to assess sensory perception during two sampling session (8 times each sampling session). This VAS has anchors located at each end of the scale. On the left end of the scale, the extreme negative response (0 mm) is represented, while the right end (100 mm) represents the positive response. Participants mark along the line where it most represents their subjective perception between both ends.Change scores will be compared between exercise and rest conditions.
Time frame: 2 hours: (1) baseline sampling session, (2) post-intervention sampling session (i.e. after 1 hour resistance training or rest)
Part 1: Changes in Sensory Perception - Taste
Validated 100 millimetre Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) will be used to assess sensory perception during two sampling session (8 times each sampling session). This VAS has anchors located at each end of the scale. On the left end of the scale, the extreme negative response (0 mm) is represented, while the right end (100 mm) represents the positive response. Participants mark along the line where it most represents their subjective perception between both ends.Change scores will be compared between exercise and rest conditions.
Time frame: 2 hours: (1) baseline sampling session, (2) post-intervention sampling session (i.e. after 1 hour resistance training or rest)
Part 1: changes in Sensory Perception - Aftertaste
Validated 100 millimetre Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) will be used to assess sensory perception during two sampling session (8 times each sampling session). This VAS has anchors located at each end of the scale. On the left end of the scale, the extreme negative response (0 mm) is represented, while the right end (100 mm) represents the positive response. Participants mark along the line where it most represents their subjective perception between both ends.Change scores will be compared between exercise and rest conditions.
Time frame: 2 hours: (1) baseline sampling session, (2) post-intervention sampling session (i.e. after 1 hour resistance training or rest)
Part 1: Changes in Sensory Perception - Palatability
Validated 100 millimetre Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) will be used to assess sensory perception during two sampling session (8 times each sampling session). This VAS has anchors located at each end of the scale. On the left end of the scale, the extreme negative response (0 mm) is represented, while the right end (100 mm) represents the positive response. Participants mark along the line where it most represents their subjective perception between both ends.Change scores will be compared between exercise and rest conditions.
Time frame: 2 hours: (1) baseline sampling session, (2) post-intervention sampling session (i.e. after 1 hour resistance training or rest)
Ran from Aug 2022 to primary completion in May 2023, 9 months.
Of 18 interventional studies with no phase under Dysgeusia, half reached primary completion within 11 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 6 and three quarters within 16. This study's 9 months is below that.
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