[Enteral nutrition and changes in taste in diabetic patients: a double-blind prospective study]

Nutr Hosp. 1993 Dec;8(9):561-6.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

The authors present a prospective double blind test aimed at objectively determining the acceptance of flavoured orally administered enteric diets specific to patients with glucose metabolism alterations (Glucerna and Precitene Diabet), in the light of the taste disorders described in such patients. Sixty-two patients were studied, 32 diabetics and 32 control patients, who were given a sample of each product; the level of acceptance was quantified on a modified wine-tasting scale. The average taste of the diabetics was 12.1 points (SD = 4.34) for Glucerna, and 10.1 (SD = 3.91) for the Precitene Diabet. In the control patients, the scores were 12.7 (SD = 3.78) and 13.2 (SD = 3.23) respectively. Multiple regression analysis did not reveal significant differences in taste according to age, sex or place of origin. Average taste among the diabetic patients as a whole with both products was 11.2 points and, for the nondiabetics, 12.92. The model detected significant differences (p = 0.01) between the two groups. The average taste of the diabetics was less than that of the non-diabetics, irrespective of all the remaining variables examined, including the type of preparation. These results confirm the lower oral acceptance in diabetic patients, possibly associated with disorders in the sense of taste, showing the utility of the modified wine-tasting scale as a test in evaluating the acceptance of enteric diets which must be administered orally.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Diabetes Complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus / therapy*
  • Diet, Diabetic / statistics & numerical data
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Enteral Nutrition* / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Food Preferences
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sex Distribution
  • Taste Disorders / epidemiology
  • Taste Disorders / etiology
  • Taste Disorders / therapy*