Monday, 16 September 2024
A new study is using chewing gum with specially formulated flavours to help people regain their lost sense of smell and/or taste, and participants are needed to help with the research.
Food Flavour scientists from the University of Nottingham are undertaking the Flavour Impairment Training (FIT) project to investigate how regular exposure to certain flavours might improve people’s ability to perceive smell and taste. Researchers are looking for people who have experienced loss or change to some or all of their sense of taste or smell.
Loss of taste (Ageusia) or smell (Anosmia) are common side effects of Covid-19, and for many people these effects are permanent. There are other virus infections, as well as head trauma, or Parkinson’s disease, which could potentially trigger changed senses of smell and/or taste. It is estimated that over 20 million people are affected and it is predicted that 1 in 6 people aged 65+ will be affected by 2050*. Reduced sensory input can lead to malnutrition, weight loss, food poisoning, depression, and other issues.
‘Smell training’ is a term used to describe regular, mindful smelling. Previous research has suggested that this can be beneficial to some people who have experienced olfactory dysfunction. Information on this often recommends that people use essential oils, such as lemon, rose, eucalyptus and clove, on a daily basis over 3 months of training.
The research team at the University of Nottingham aims to expand on this approach in this new study to help recover smell and taste perception. They propose the novel use of chewing gum as an ideal tool to deliver flavour training beyond the traditional Olfactory training.
Working with Tastetech Ltd, a set of chewing gums has been designed to stimulate the smell, taste and sensation of cooling, heat and spice (trigeminal) over time. The team would like to evaluate its potential use as a training tool to aid the recovery of altered flavour perceptions. With support from Fifth Sense, the UK charity for people affected by smell and taste disorders, they hope to recruit over 90 participants.
The study is being led by Dr Ni Yang (Nicole) from the University of Nottingham.
We know that chewing traditional mint flavoured gum creates sensations of sweet taste, minty aroma and cooling (trigeminal). The stimulation of multi-sensations can theoretically enhance overall flavour perception. We are building on this with our research to introduce some tailor-made chewing gums with long-lasting flavours, and we hope they will be effective training tools in helping retrain the sense of smell and taste.
I hope through this project we can alleviate the pain of suffering and the fear of being affected. We have carried out foundation research to develop specially formulated chewing gums that stimulate olfaction, gustation and trigeminal sensations. Now we are ready to compare their effectiveness with the olfactory training.
The team is looking to recruit people aged 18-65 who have impaired flavour perception and have had it for between 3 months and 2 years. Participants will be asked to chew the gum provided twice daily for 2 mins over a period of 3 months – once in the morning and once in the evening.
If you are interested in participating, please sign up via the link below:
https://forms.office.com/e/gRbsy1iFkQ
More information on this study can be found here
Story credits
More information is available from Dr Ni Yang on Ni.Yang@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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