Validation of Edible Taste Strips for Assessing PROP Taste Perception

• Published in: Chemical senses Vol. 38; no. 6; pp. 529 - 539
• Main Authors: SMUTZER, Gregory, DESAI, Hetvi, COLDWELL, Susan E, GRIFFITH, James W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01-07-2013
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genotype; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Olfaction. Taste; Ophthalmology; Original; Perception; Propylthiouracil - administration & dosage; Propylthiouracil - analysis; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - genetics; Reproducibility of Results; Taste Perception - genetics; Taste Perception - physiology; Taste Threshold - genetics; Vision disorders; Young Adult; Evaluation; taste blindness; Vision disorder; PROP; NIH Toolbox; Gustative system; bitter taste; Eye disease; Gustation; Blindness; Perception; taste strip; Taste; taste test; gustation
• ISSN: 0379-864X; 1464-3553
• DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjt023

A novel delivery method is described that incorporates taste stimuli into edible strips for determining n-propylthiouracil (PROP) taster status. Edible strips that contained 400 or 600 nanomoles of PROP were prepared for psychophysical studies. Using these strips, we measured taste intensity, taste hedonics, and taste quality responses in a sample of healthy volunteers (n = 118). Participants were also asked to assess a single NaCl strip, a quinine strip, 3 NaCl solutions, and 3 PROP solutions. All psychophysical data were subsequently analyzed as a function of TAS2R38 genotype. The use of PROP strips for distinguishing between individuals with at least 1 PAV allele and individuals with other genotypes was assessed and compared with the use of PROP solutions for making this same distinction. For the 2 PROP strips and PROP solutions, individuals who expressed at least 1 PAV allele could perceive the bitter taste of PROP. Individuals who expressed 2 AVI alleles responded similarly to 400 nanomole PROP strips and blank strips. Furthermore, individuals with 2 AVI alleles responded to 0.032 and 0.32 mM PROP solutions at intensities that were similar to water, though intensity ratings to 3.2 mM PROP solution exceeded water. In general, those with at least 1 PAV allele rated the bitter taste of PROP as unpleasant in both delivery methods (strips or solutions). Psychophysical data from PROP strips and solutions were consistent with TAS2R38 genotype. These results support the validity of edible taste strips as a method for assessing PROP taste perception in humans.