Assessing the Palatability of Oral Rehydration Solutions in School-aged Children

Abstract

Setting: Emergency department of a tertiary care pediatric hospital.Participants: Sixty-six children aged 5 to 10 years with concerns unrelated to the gastrointestinal tract.Intervention: Each participant consumed as much of each solution as they desired during a 15-minute period.Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was each child's rating of taste as measured on a 100-mm visual analog scale (worst taste, 0 mm; best taste, 100 mm). Secondary outcome measures were volume consumed, willingness to consume each liquid again, and the most favored liquid. Results:All enrolled patients completed all 3 study periods. A significant carryover effect was detected for taste scores (P=.03), which were significantly different with and without adjustment for the carryover effect (PϽ.001). Unadjusted values were 65 mm for Pedialyte, 58 mm for Pediatric Electrolyte, and 23 mm for Enfalyte. Differences in mean volume consumed were not significant (Enfalyte, 15 mL; Pediatric Electrolyte, 17 mL; and Pedialyte, 22 mL [P=.44]). The proportion of children who would drink each solution in the future varied significantly between Enfalyte and Pediatric Electrolyte (odds ratio, 0.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.11-0.46) and between Enfalyte and Pedialyte (0.38; 0.25-0.57). There were differences in the identification of the best-tasting solution, with Pedialyte selected by 35 of 66 children (53%), Pediatric Electrolyte by 26 of 66 children (39%), and Enfalyte by 5 of 66 children (8%) (PϽ.001). Conclusion:Sucralose-sweetened oral rehydration solutions (Pedialyte and Pediatric Electrolyte) were significantly more palatable than was a comparable ricebased solution (Enfalyte).

Acceptability and efficacy of a gel hypotonic oral rehydration solution in children with acute gastroenteritis

“…In fact, the children in group 2 consumed a higher amount of ORS and fewer children in this group refused the treatment compared with children in the control group, in which a low amount of ORS was consumed, in line with a previous report [11]. In fact, the children in group 2 consumed a higher amount of ORS and fewer children in this group refused the treatment compared with children in the control group, in which a low amount of ORS was consumed, in line with a previous report [11].…”

Efficacy and safety of a new apple‐flavoured oral rehydration solution in children with acute gastroenteritis: a double‐blind randomized controlled trial

“…The study by Freedman et al. (11) was a prospective, double‐blind, randomized, 3‐period, 3‐treatment crossover trial conducted in 66 children aged 5 to 10 years with concerns unrelated to the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of the study was to compare the palatability of 3 ORSs (i.e.…”

Industry perspective on palatability testing in children—Two case studies

“…Immediately after each test dose, the child was asked to separately rate the flavour, smell, sweetness and overall liking of the medicine using a modified 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS) that incorporated a facial hedonic scale (Angelilli et al, 2000;Freedman et al, 2010). All the formulations had a yellow appearance to prevent any bias.…”