title: Evaluation of the odour of Aminoleban® EN, taste-masked with flavoured powders, by human and electronic noses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aminoleban® EN is a bitter total enteral nutrient product with an unpleasant odour. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the odour of Aminoleban® EN, taste-masked with various flavoured powders, by human testing and by using an electronic nose system (Alpha M.O.S.).
  
  
  METHODS
  Initially, the odour of Aminoleban® EN alone at various concentrations was evaluated. Secondly, the odour of Aminoleban® EN with the addition of various flavoured powders was evaluated; the evaluation included data on odour intensity, preference levels and evoked taste image.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the human nose, a concentration of 0.43 g/100 ml seemed to be the taste threshold for Aminoleban® EN. In the electronic nose system, principal component analysis revealed that concentrations over 0.39 g/100 ml Aminoleban® EN could be distinguished from water. It was clear from both human testing and using the electronic nose system that the unpleasant odour of Aminoleban® EN could be masked by pineapple- and plum-flavoured powders, both of which contain not only sweet but also sour components.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The electronic nose system may be useful for detecting odours at or below the level detectable by the human olfactory system and for classifying the quality of different odours, thus reducing the amount of human testing required.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mukogawa Women's University, Nishinomiya City, Japan.
authors.forename: Tamami
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haraguchi
authors.forename: Miyako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uchida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D062609:Electronic Nose; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005518:Food Preferences; D005526:Food, Formulated / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D057230:Limit of Detection; D009812:Odorants; D011208:Powders; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D013652:Taste Threshold; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; D005421:Flavoring Agents; D011208:Powders; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds