Flavor Test Results in General Population

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Dietary choices are influenced by several factors, including physiological, social or genetic factors. Among these, flavor is the most important determinant modulating the preferences versus specific foods. Flavor perception is the result from the sensory integration of taste and odor properties of food. Aim of the present study was to assess flavor abilities in a large population using a validated perceptive test.

Detailed Description
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This protocol investigates flavor perception using the flavor test, a specific test to assess the retro-nasal olfactory function. A decrease in taste and smell abilities can result in loss of appetite, inadequate dietary intake and malnutrition. Several diseases and conditions have been associated with taste disorders and a decline in gustatory function is very common in the elderly. The flavor test was previously developed, validated and patented by our group. It consists of a series of 20 aromatic extracts, corresponding to routine dietary use flavors for Italian people. Each tastant, originally stored in a 30 mL amber bottle, is diluted in distilled water and stored at 4 °C, then it is kept at room temperature for 20 min before administration. An aliquot of approximately 0,5 mL of each tastant is administered in the oral cavity using a 3mL Transfer Pipet and left for approximately 5 seconds; the mouth is then rinsed twice with distilled water before the administration of the following tastant. At each administration, participants are invited to identify the aromatic by making a choice from 5 proposed items. A total of 21 aromatics (including one blank) are administered sequentially. The flavor score (FS) is calculated as the sum of correctly identified aromatics and ranged from 0 to 21.

Official Title
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Flavor Perception in the Population of Campania Region, Italy

Conditions
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Weight, Body, Smoking, Age Problem

Intervention / Treatment
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* Diagnostic Test: Flavor test


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age ≥ 18 years Exclusion Criteria: Allergies, drug usage

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| General population<br>Adult volunteers (≥18 years of age) selected as part of a project to investigate the role of lifestyle in preventing chronic diseases supported by the Campus Salute association (www.campussalute.it). All volunteers performed the flavor test as described in Maione et al, Endocrine, 2016 (doi:10.1007/s12020-015-0690-y). | Diagnostic Test: Flavor test<br>* The flavor test was developed, validated and patented (patent no. 0001426253 of the Italian Ministry for the Economic Development). It consists of a series of 20 aromatic extracts, corresponding to routine dietary use flavors for Italian people. At each administration, participants were invited to identify the aromatic by making a choice from 5 proposed items. A total of 21 aromatics (including one blank) were administered sequentially. The flavor score (FS) was calculated as the sum of correctly identified aromatics and ranged from 0 to 21.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Flavor score | A flavor score (1-21) was measured in all the studied subjects using the Flavor test | Immediately after the test administration flavor score was calculated | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Obesity, Flavor