title: Changes in taste preference after colorectal surgery: A longitudinal study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nutrition is a key component of surgical enhanced recovery programmes. However, alterations in food preferences are often reported as reasons for patients not eating in the early postoperative period. We hypothesised that taste preferences are altered in the early postoperative period and this dysgeusia affects patients' food choices during this critical time.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a longitudinal study looking at taste preferences of patients recovering from surgery. Patients undergoing colonic resections were recruited. Using visual analogue scales participants completed a questionnaire, taste tests and preference scoring of food images for the 6 groups of taste (bitter, salty, savoury, sour, spicy and sweet) preoperatively and on postoperative days 1-3. Patients were also offered snacks postoperatively, which represented foods from the six groups and consumption was measured. Differences from baseline were assessed using the Friedman's and Wilcoxon tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  31 patients were studied. In the immediate postoperative period participants reported deterioration in their sense of taste (p ≤ 0.001), increased nausea (p < 0.001) and hunger (p = 0.03). Sweet, savoury and spicy tastes were the most popular during the perioperative period. However, only palatability for salty taste increased (p = 0.001) following surgery. The highest rated images were for savoury food with only the ratings for salty food increasing after surgery (p < 0.05). These findings concurred with the sweet, savoury and salty snacks being the most consumed foods in the postoperative period. Bitter, sour and spicy foods were the least frequently consumed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to investigate postsurgical patients' food preferences. A consistent change in all the individual tastes with the exception of salty in the postoperative period was observed. The most desirable tastes were for savoury and sweet, reflecting patients' preoperative preferences. An improved understanding of taste may improve the resumption of eating after colonic surgery.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Surgery, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, Devon, UK.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Welchman
authors.affiliation: Dept of Surgery, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, Devon, UK.
authors.forename: Perryhan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hiotis
authors.affiliation: Dept of Surgery, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, Devon, UK.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pengelly
authors.affiliation: Dept of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Merseyside, UK.
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: Dept of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Merseyside, UK.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Halford
authors.affiliation: Dept of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Merseyside, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.affiliation: Dept Gastroenterology, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, Devon, UK; National Institute of Health Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, UK. Electronic address: sjl@doctors.org.uk.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003107:Colorectal Surgery; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013649:Taste
keywords: Dysgeusia; Enhanced recovery; Nutrition; Post-operative