The Bile Acid Sequestrant Acceptability scale validation study.
OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of this study was to validate a novel Bile Acid Sequestrant Acceptability (BASA) Scale intended to assess the acceptability and/or tolerability of bile acid sequestrant (BAS) beverage preparations. A secondary objective was to assess the utility of weightings based on subjective clinical importance for the BASA scale individual components and its composite score.


METHODS
This was a randomised, single-blind, single site, controlled study of oral administration of 4 g of orange-flavoured generic cholestyramine powder, 12 g of orange-flavoured generic cholestyramine powder and an orange-flavoured sweetened control drink powder, each mixed with water.


RESULTS
The study sample included 42 subjects; 26 men and 16 women. Participants were non-Hispanic white (76.2%) or black/African American (23.8%), with a mean age of 51.4 years and body mass index of 30.1 kg/m(2). The components of the BASA scale were taste, texture, appearance and mixability; the possible total BASA scores ranged being 4-20; the higher the BASA scale score, the better the acceptability/tolerability. Composite BASA scale scores were significantly lower for the 4 g (mean BASA score = 10.3) and 12 g (mean BASA score = 9.4) cholestyramine compared with the control drink powder (mean BASA score = 16.7) (p < 0.001). BASA scale scores did not significantly differ between the 4 and 12 g of cholestyramine. (p = 0.215). Weighting of the components did not materially alter the results. Findings for the individual components of the BASA scale were similar to the composite values.


CONCLUSIONS
The BASA scale effectively distinguished between an orange-flavoured BAS powder and a commercial orange-flavour control powder.
Bays
H E
HE
Louisville Metabolic and Atherosclerosis Research Center, Louisville, KY, USA. hbaysmd@aol.com
Maki
K C
KC
Schmitz
K
K
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000837:Anion Exchange Resins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001628:Beverages; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013649:Taste; D055815:Young Adult
D000837:Anion Exchange Resins; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin