Age-related differences in bitter taste and efficacy of bitter blockers

Area of Science:

• Taste perception and sensory science
• Pharmacology and drug development
• Pediatric medicine

Background:

• Bitter taste in medications is a major reason children refuse them.
• Understanding bitter taste perception is key to improving medication adherence.
• Two bitter blockers, sodium gluconate (NaG) and monosodium glutamate (MSG), were investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of two bitter blockers in reducing bitterness in children and adults.
• To investigate age-specific differences in bitter taste perception and blocking.
• To determine the compound-specific effectiveness of bitter blockers.

Main Methods:

• 154 children (3-10 years) and 118 adults evaluated NaG and MSG against five bitter compounds (quinine, denatonium benzoate, caffeine, propylthiouracil (PROP), urea).
• A forced-choice paired comparison method was used.
• The study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01407939).

Main Results:

• Bitter blockers were effective in 7/10 combinations for adults but only 3/10 for children.
• Blocker efficacy was specific to the bitter compound and age group.
• Urea's bitterness was reduced by both blockers in both age groups, while PROP's bitterness was unaffected.
• Children preferred the salty taste of NaG over adults; both groups liked MSG's savory taste equally.

Conclusions:

• Bitter blocking is less effective in children, with efficacy dependent on age and the specific bitter compound.
• Findings suggest adult taste panel data and genotyping may not accurately predict medication taste for children.
• This research supports developing evidence-based strategies for better-tasting pediatric medicines.