Taste function in children: normative values and associated factors

Pediatric Research, vol. 92, pp. 1175–1180

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although less frequent than in adults, taste loss also occurs in childhood. "Taste Strips" are frequently used for diagnosing taste dysfunction; however, normative values are lacking for children. In this study, we will create normative values for the "Taste Strips" in children. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 609 children aged 6-15 years. "Taste Strips" were used to determine sweet, sour, salty, and bitter taste scores by a non-forced procedure. The 10th percentile was used to distinguish normal taste function from a reduced sense of taste. Multivariable generalized linear models (GLM) were estimated to study the effect of age (group), sex, and 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) status on taste function. RESULTS: Taste function changed with age, allowing for a distinction of three age groups: (I) 6-7 years, (II) 8-9 years, and (III) 10-15 years. Normative values were created for the age groups and boys and girls separately. Additionally, GLM showed a significant effect of (1) age (group) on sweet, salty, bitter, and total taste scores; (2) sex on sweet, sour, and total taste scores; and (3) PROP status on total taste scores. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided normative values for the "Taste Strips" in children, highlighting age- and sex-related differences. IMPACT: Taste dysfunction can be harmful and impacts quality of life, a topic that became increasingly important since the COVID-19 pandemic. Although taste dysfunction is thought to be rare in childhood, the detrimental impact of such dysfunction might be large, as children's eating habits are strongly influenced by input from the chemical senses. Measuring taste function may elucidate the relationship between taste dysfunction and disease, fostering the development of more appropriate supportive strategies. However, adequate tools are lacking for children. Normative values of the "Taste Strips" are now available for children, which bolster the clinical utility of this test.

Authors 5

1. Mirjam van den Brink corresponding

   Maastricht University · Princess Máxima Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory of Behavioural Gastronomy, Centre for Healthy Eating and Food Innovation, Maastricht University Campus Venlo, Venlo, the Netherlands. M.vandenBrink-9@prinsesmaximacentrum.nl

   Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands. M.vandenBrink-9@prinsesmaximacentrum.nl

   Laboratory of Behavioural Gastronomy, Centre for Healthy Eating and Food Innovation, Maastricht University Campus Venlo, Venlo, the Netherlands

2. Irene IJpma

   Princess Máxima Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands

3. Marta F. Fiocco Aachen Mathematical Institute Medical Statistics Department of Biomedical Data Science

   Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center · Princess Máxima Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Mathematical Institute, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands

   Medical Statistics, Department of Biomedical Data Science, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

   Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands

4. Wim J. E. Tissing

   University Medical Center Groningen · University of Groningen · Beatrix Kinderziekenhuis · Princess Máxima Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, University of Groningen, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands

   Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands

5. Remco C. Havermans

   Maastricht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Laboratory of Behavioural Gastronomy, Centre for Healthy Eating and Food Innovation, Maastricht University Campus Venlo, Venlo, the Netherlands