Self-reported taste and smell alterations and the liking of oral nutritional supplements with sensory adapted flavours in cancer patients receiving systemic antitumor treatment

Title: Self-reported taste and smell alterations and the liking of oral nutritional supplements with sensory adapted flavours in cancer patients receiving systemic antitumor treatment

This study aimed to examine the occurrence of taste and smell alterations in cancer patients and overall liking of oral nutritional supplements (ONS).

50 patients were included in the study, of which 30 patients (60%) reported taste alterations and 13 (26%) experienced smell alterations (all patients with smell alterations had taste alterations).

5 prototypes were tested in randomised, blinded, sequential-monadic test.
2 flavours providing a warming sensation (hot tropical ginger and hot mango), 2 flavours providing a cooling sensation (cool red fruits and cool lemon), and 1 flavour was based on a neutral profile were evaluated.
Of these five prototypes, 3 adapted flavours (cool red fruits, neutral and hot tropical ginger) were rated positively by most patients.

Overall, 60% of patients who participated in this study reported taste alterations and taste alterations were reported to adversely impact on patients daily life.
Patients with taste alterations demonstrated a larger variation in overall liking of ONS flavours compared to patients without taste alterations.
The presence of taste and smell alterations should be evaluated and considered when prescribing or developing ONS for cancer patients.

Louise Daly, Nutritional Scientist Oncology at Danone Research & Innovation comments ”A good overall liking of ONS with sensory adapted flavours, as seen in this study, may have potential to support improved compliance, which is essential to optimize the benefits of nutritional support.”.

You can read the full publication here : Self-reported taste and smell alterations and the liking of oral nutritional supplements with sensory-adapted flavors in cancer patients receiving systemic antitumor treatment | SpringerLink

At Danone Research & Innovation, we recognise that cancer patients have different nutritional needs at each stage of their illness. Cancer patients are at risk of becoming malnourished, both as a consequence of their illness and its treatment.  Our aim is to develop innovative medical nutrition, for example oral nutritional supplements (ONS), that supports patients throughout their cancer journey. In addition to studying specific nutrients and their potential role in improving outcomes for cancer patients, we also investigate sensory experiences of cancer patients as up to 70% of cancer patients suffer from sensory alterations during treatment¹.

Virginie Pouyet, User eXperience Design Manager at Danone Research & Innovation concludes “Understanding sensory physiology changes in cancer patients and involving them in the design of ONS is key to provide a better experience and compliance with ONS; and ultimately improve patients’ nutritional and health status.”

^{1 radiotherapy (Spotten, 2017, (Bernhardson et al, 2008;  Wickham et al, 1999)}