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Review
. 2024 Feb 8:12:1350662.
doi: 10.3389/fped.2024.1350662. eCollection 2024.

Evaluating palatability in young children: a mini-review of relevant physiology and assessment techniques

Haley M Schluterman  1 , Constance G Linardos  1 , Teresa Drulia  2 , James D Marshall  3   4   5 , Gregory L Kearns  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Evaluating palatability in young children: a mini-review of relevant physiology and assessment techniques

Haley M Schluterman et al. Front Pediatr. .

Abstract

The palatability of pediatric pharmaceutical products plays a crucial role of influencing medication compliance. Rejection of unpalatable medications can potentially lead to treatment failure which can have immediate and delayed consequences. With advances in both the food and pharmaceutical industries, the systematic assessment of palatability has gained importance. Various methods such as visual analogue scales, facial hedonic scales, and facial recognition software, have been employed to assess palatability. While proven to be useful, these methods have significant limitations and may not be workable for young children. Despite these advancements, a universally accepted "gold standard" for assessing pediatric mediation palatability, recognized by drug regulatory agencies, is yet to be established.

Keywords: children; medicine; palatability; taste physiology; viscosity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Graphical depiction of the biology of olfaction (17). (B) Tongue structures and Innervation (18).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Seven-face and five-face study scales presented to subjects aged 5 years and older. Top to bottom: TASTY Scale (37), Chen Scale (31), Ellis Scale (38) (Chen and Ellis scales reproduced with permission).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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