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Bitter taste sensitivity with diet in Australian adults

We are inviting adults in Australia to take part in a research study exploring how your sensitivity to bitter tastes may relate to your eating habits, diet quality, and weight status.

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Study Purpose/Description

This study investigates whether being sensitive to bitter tastes – something influenced by your genes – affects your food preferences, eating behaviour, and body measurements. By participating, you’ll be helping us better understand how taste perception shapes diet and health in Australia.

What’s Involved? 

Online questionnaire (15 mins): You’ll be asked about your diet, lifestyle, eating habits, and self-reported body measurements.

Taste sensitivity test (by mail): We’ll send you two paper strips to taste – one plain and one that may taste bitter – to identify your bitter taste sensitivity.

Optional cheek swab (subset only): A small number of participants may be invited to provide a cheek swab for genetic testing related to taste sensitivity. This part is completely optional. You’ll be entered into a draw for a chance to win one of three $50 coles gift cards

Want to learn more?

Recruitment criteria

You may be eligible to participate in this study if:

  • Are aged 18 or older
  • Born in Australia or have lived in Australia for at least 10 years
  • Are generally healthy (not currently pregnant, no recent COVID-19 infection or antibiotic use, no known changes to taste or smell)

Benefits

You’ll be entered into a draw for a chance to win one of three $50 Coles gift card.

Study sponsor / funder

Research team contacts

Research Team

alia.shareef@griffithuni.edu.au

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The Join Us Register is currently funded by the Australian Stroke and Heart Research Accelerator (ASHRA). 

For more information about ASHRA, click here.

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