TheInfluenceofCommonNoncommunicable DiseasesonChemosensoryPerceptionandClinical ImplicationsinChildrenandAdolescents

Abstract

An increased incidence of noninfectious chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, and allergies, has been noted in the last century, especially in thelast2to3generations.Evidencesuggestedthattheinterrelationamongthesechronicconditionsinpediatricage(e.g.,childrenandadolescents aged 4–16 y) is complex and still unknown, reinforcing the interest of pediatricians in these diseases. Of interest is the need to better understand thelinkbetweenthesepathologiesandsensoryperception,sincethechemicalsensesoftasteandsmell,togetherwithchemesthesis,arereported tohavearoleinfoodchoicesandmayprovideanoveltargetforinterventioninthetreatmentofthesepathologies.Thisreviewaimstoexplorethe currentevidenceonthelinkbetweenthesechronicconditionsandchemosensoryperception(i.e.,tasteandsmell).Inaddition,theputativerolethat chemosensory perception may have on food choices and eating behavior of children and adolescents affected by these diseases are highlighted. Furthermore,thereviewaddressestheunexploredissuesthatneedtobeinvestigatedinthisarea.Theliteraturedatasearchsuggestedthatnoclear relationbetweentasteandsmellperceptionandtheaforementioneddiseasesinyoungpopulationyetexists.However,somepossibletrendshave beenhighlightedintheadultpopulation,inwhomthedurationofdiseasemighthaveaffectedtherelation.Thereisaneedforfurther,high-quality, hypothesis-ledresearch,withrobustmeasuresoftasteandsmellfunctionsastheprimaryoutcomes,tostrengthenordenythisevidence