Adults and children live in different sensory worlds. While children are less sensitive to detecting sweetness and more sensitive to detecting bitterness than adults, there is surprisingly little research using the same methods to compare their sensitivities for other tastes—particularly for umami. Here, we conducted a secondary analysis of data from children (8-14 years; n=85) and adults (21-67 years; n=71) to determine whether there are age-related changes in taste sensitivity for monosodium glutamate (MSG). Using identical procedures for both groups, MSG detection thresholds were determined via a two-alternative, forced-choice paired comparison tracking procedure previously validated for use in children. Because obesity is associated with reduced MSG sensitivity in adults, we also examined MSG thresholds as a function of body adiposity. Body fat percentage was estimated using bioimpedance electrical analysis in the majority (75%) of participants and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in… 

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are widely prescribed for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity by regulating appetite, a function heavily influenced by taste and smell. Post-marketing surveillance data from the FDA Adverse Event (AE) Reporting System was used to evaluate the effects of GLP-1 RAs on taste and smell. Methods: We analyzed AE reports (01/01/2019–09/30/2024) on taste disorders (dysgeusia, ageusia, hypogeusia, non-specified taste disorder) and smell disorders (anosmia, hyposmia, parosmia, phantosmia) for GLP-1 RAs (semaglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, lixisenatide; N=113,452) and non-GLP-1 RA drugs with known chemosensory adverse effects [i.e., metformin (non-GLP-1 RA drug for diabetes), nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid), and terbinafine (antifungal); N=257,356] using a standard disproportionality approach. Results: As expected, non-GLP-1 RA drugs exhibited high (>2.0) Reporting Odds Ratios (ROR) for one or more chemosensory AEs, with the largest effects for taste dysfunction. Examples include metformin for… 

Chemosensory dysfunctions (CD) are symptoms often experienced by cancer patients. Albeit common, these symptoms lack guidelines for management and are rarely addressed by healthcare providers, and therefore, how taste and smell dysfunctions affect quality of life in cancer patients is understudied. To address this gap, we analyzed data from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The sample included 3,654 subjects (mean±SD: 68±13 years, range:18-99 years; 58% F; 85% non-hispanic white) who self-reported having cancer and self-assessed whether they had difficulty tasting, difficulty smelling, and reported life satisfaction (binary) in the last 12 months. 20.3% reported smell dysfunction (n=741; 70±12 years; 49% F) and 11.9% reported taste dysfunction (n=435; 70±12 years; 52% F), and 9% reported both smell and taste dysfunction (n=330; 71±12 years; 51% F). After adjusting for age and sex, a logistic regression revealed that cancer patients reporting… 

Die Einnahme von Antibiotika in den ersten beiden Lebensjahren ist laut einer neuen Studie mit einem höheren Body-Mass-Index (BMI) im Kindesalter verbunden. Die Forschungsergebnisse werden auf der Jahrestagung 2025 der  Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS)  vom 24. bis 28. April in Honolulu vorgestellt.  Die Forscher fanden heraus, dass Kinder, die in den ersten beiden Lebensjahren Antibiotika ausgesetzt waren, einen um 0,067 höheren BMI (bezogen auf Alter und Geschlecht) sowie ein um 9 % höheres Risiko für Übergewicht und ein um 20 % höheres Risiko für Fettleibigkeit hatten als Kinder, die keinen Antibiotika ausgesetzt waren. Die Forscher fanden keinen Zusammenhang zwischen BMI und der Einnahme von Antibiotika vor, während oder bei der Geburt. Laut Forschern werden Kleinkindern häufig Antibiotika verschrieben. Die meisten Kinder erhalten innerhalb der ersten zwei Lebensjahre Antibiotika. Etwa ein Viertel der Kinder kommt während der Schwangerschaft und ein Drittel während der vaginalen…