van Bakel SIJ, Gosker HR, Wilms E, Schols AMWJ, Havermans RC. Chemosensory function and food perception is affected in COPD, but unrelated to sarcopenia risk.
Clin Nutr 2024;
43:218-223. [PMID:
38096626 DOI:
10.1016/j.clnu.2023.11.042]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS
Patients with advanced COPD often have difficulty maintaining sufficient dietary intake. Chemosensory function influences food choice and intake but is often overlooked in dietary assessment and intervention strategies. This study aimed to assess differences in chemosensory function and hedonic evaluation of food between patients with COPD and age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Additionally, a possible association between increased risk of sarcopenia or frailty and chemosensory impairments was explored.
METHODS
We recruited 53 COPD patients (34 males, mean age 66.6 ± 7.6 years) and 53 controls (25 males, mean age 68.4 ± 5.7 years). Chemosensory function was assessed using a smell threshold, smell identification (Sniffin' Sticks, Burghart) and taste recognition test (Taste Strips, Burghart) and through self-report. Sensory properties (appearance, smell, taste, mouthfeel) of four standardized food products were evaluated on 9-point hedonic rating scales. Sarcopenia risk was assessed with the SARC-F.
RESULTS
The COPD group scored lower on both the smell (p = 0.026 for threshold, p = 0.001 for identification) and taste recognition tests (p < 0.001) and also reported more smell and taste impairments (p < 0.001) compared to controls. Hedonic evaluation of food items' appearance (p = 0.009) and smell (p = 0.033) was lower in COPD patients. Within the COPD group, risk of sarcopenia was not associated with chemosensory function.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrates that COPD patients have poorer chemosensory function and experience more impairments compared to controls. COPD patients also tend to evaluate foods less positive than do their controls but within COPD patients, sarcopenia risk is not associated with chemosensory function.
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