Change in taste preference in undernourished elderly hospitalized subjects during periods of infection and convalescence.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the impact of taste pleasure supplements on modifications of food intake in hospitalized frail elderly patients.


METHODS
Thirty hospitalized frail elderly patients tasted different formulas of a high-protein coffee supplement: -supplement C, commercial version; - supplement CA with artificial coffee flavor; - supplement CS with sucrose and - supplement CAS with sucrose and artificial coffee flavor. The preference for the supplements was analyzed by the Friedman test followed by a post hoc Tukey's test. The food intakes in each period were compared by repeated ANOVA and the food intakes of the two periods were compared using Student's t test. All measurements were made during periods of infection and convalescence.


RESULTS
The supplements CAS and CS were significantly more appreciated than the current commercial version C (P < .05). The patients could be classified into two groups: consumers (consuming the supplements) and nonconsumers (just tasting the supplements). Taking supplements can increase the total energy intake for consumers (P < .01), especially during periods of infection; no modification was observed in the non-consumers.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of supplements to increase sensory pleasure can be one feasible way to increase energy intake in hospitalized elderly patients with an infectious disease.
Van Wymelbeke
V
V
Hôpital de Champmaillot, Service de Médecine Gériatrique, CHU de Dijon, Dijon, France. vanwymelbeke@cesg.cnrs.fr
Jiang
T
T
Pfitzenmeyer
P
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003069:Coffee; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003289:Convalescence / Q000523:psychology; D004032:Diet; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D055697:Taste Perception
D003069:Coffee; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D002097:C-Reactive Protein