IJpma Irene, Renken Remco J, Ter Horst Gert J, Reyners Anna K L
Top Institute Food and Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Neuroimaging Center Groningen, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Support Care Cancer. 2016 Oct;24(10):4301-8. doi: 10.1007/s00520-016-3263-6. Epub 2016 May 24.
Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are commonly prescribed to malnourished patients to improve their nutritional status. Taste and smell changes in patients with cancer can affect the palatability of ONS. The present study investigated: (1) the palatability of six ONS in testicular cancer patients before, during the first two cycles, and after chemotherapy; (2) the relation between the palatability and taste and smell function; (3) the metallic taste of these ONS.
Twenty-one testicular cancer patients undergoing first-line cisplatin-based chemotherapy participated. Two milk-based (vanilla; strawberry), two juice-based (apple; orange), and two yoghurt-based (vanilla-lemon; peach-orange) ONS were tested. A questionnaire was used to assess the palatability of ONS and to which extent the attribute 'metallic' was applicable. Taste and smell function were measured using taste strips and 'Sniffin' Sticks', respectively.
The palatability of ONS was highly variable among patients. The milk-based strawberry ONS was preferred most before, during, and after chemotherapy. The liking of the milk-based vanilla ONS tended to decrease over time (p = 0.053), whereas the liking of the other ONS remained stable. A higher smell threshold and a lower sour taste threshold were correlated to a decreased liking of the milk-based vanilla ONS. The two juice-based ONS tended to taste more metallic during than before chemotherapy.
Health care professionals and patients should be aware that the palatability of ONS can change over time. Regular structured contact between health care professionals and patients regarding the choice of ONS seems warranted.
通常会给营养不良的患者开具口服营养补充剂（ONS）以改善其营养状况。癌症患者的味觉和嗅觉变化会影响ONS的适口性。本研究调查了：（1）六种ONS在睾丸癌患者化疗前、前两个周期化疗期间及化疗后的适口性；（2）适口性与味觉和嗅觉功能之间的关系；（3）这些ONS的金属味。
21例接受一线顺铂化疗的睾丸癌患者参与研究。测试了两种基于牛奶的（香草味；草莓味）、两种基于果汁的（苹果味；橙汁味）和两种基于酸奶的（香草柠檬味；桃橙味）ONS。使用问卷调查评估ONS的适口性以及“金属味”这一属性适用的程度。分别使用味觉试纸和“嗅觉棒”测量味觉和嗅觉功能。
ONS的适口性在患者中差异很大。基于牛奶的草莓味ONS在化疗前、化疗期间和化疗后最受青睐。基于牛奶的香草味ONS的受欢迎程度随时间推移有下降趋势（p = 0.053），而其他ONS的受欢迎程度保持稳定。较高的嗅觉阈值和较低的酸味阈值与基于牛奶的香草味ONS的喜爱程度降低相关。两种基于果汁的ONS在化疗期间比化疗前往往更有金属味。
医护人员和患者应意识到ONS的适口性可能随时间变化。医护人员和患者就ONS的选择进行定期的结构化沟通似乎很有必要。
