Taste preferences of young children with PKU
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Taste preferences of young children with phenylketonuria (PKU)
IRAS ID
103771
Contact name
Sharon Evans
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Birmingham Children's Hospital R&D
Research summary
Children with phenylketonuria (PKU) require very restrictive diets, and are exposed to bitter-tasting phenylalanine free protein substitute (PFPS) from infancy. Little is known about the impact this has on on taste preferences although it has been established that infants with milk intolerance fed bitter-tasting protein hydrolysate formulas from birth eat more savoury, bitter, and sour-tasting foods than those given sweeter-tasting milk-based formulas or breast-milk and this preference continues into childhood. Current use of specialist low protein foods (SLPF) in PKU is low despite their benefits in aiding dietary adherence and metabolic control. Data about taste preference in PKU may be applied to the future development of SLPF resulting in improved acceptability, better energy intake and metabolic control. In this observational prospective study the flavour preference of 30 children, aged 5-12yrs with phenylketonuria (PKU) on a low protein diet will be compared with 30 age/gender-matched children on normal diets. Accompanied by a Play Therapist subjects will taste 10 familiar puree foods in random order rating each as “super yummy”, “really yummy“, “yummy“, “just okay”, “yucky“, “really yucky“ or “super yucky” using pictorial representations of faces and then rank the foods in order of preference. For validity, children will be asked to feed the “yummy” purees to a “friendly” doll and the “yucky” purees to an “unfriendly” doll. A food frequency questionnaire and neophobia questionnaire will be completed by caregivers to indicate how often children eat certain foods and their variety-seeking behaviour with respect to food.
REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/WM/0154
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion