Flavor enhancement of food improves dietary intake and nutritional status of elderly nursing home residents

Taste and smell losses occur with aging. These changes may decrease the enjoyment of food and may subsequently reduce food consumption and negatively influence the nutritional status of elderly persons, especially those who are frail. The objective of this study was to determine if the addition of flavor enhancers to the cooked meals for elderly residents of a nursing home promotes food consumption and provides nutritional benefits. We performed a 16-week parallel group intervention consisting of sprinkling flavor enhancers over the cooked meals of the "flavor" group (n = 36) and not over the meals of the control group (n = 31). Measurements of intake of the cooked meals were taken before and after 8 and 16 weeks of intervention. Appetite, daily dietary intake, and anthropometry were assessed before and after the intervention. On average, the body weight of the flavor group increased (+1.1 +/- 1.3 kg; p