Investigating the Sensory Effects of Selenium-enriched Parsnips.

Study aims to investigate 2 topics: 1. Flavour-Nutrient Learning (FNL) FNL proposes that personal food preferences may be influenced by unconscious mechanisms which operate to ensure the safeguarding of individual nutrient levels. The theory postulates that food preferences may change over time to address changing nutritional status (Yeomans, 2012). This study aims to explore FNL in humans by investigating the preferences of participants with low and high blood-selenium levels in relation to selenium-enriched parsnips. Participants will be investigated in a two-week trial in which they will undertake two food sensory tests: one before, and one after, the two-week period where they will incorporate provided parsnips into their diet. Some provided parsnips will contain higher levels of selenium than others, neither the participants nor the lead researcher will know which type of parsnip each participant receives. It is hypothesised that the second food sensory test, performed after the intervention period, will show that participants of lower initial blood-selenium levels will demonstrate an increased liking for the selenium-enriched parsnips. This may demonstrate possible FNL in humans. 2. Relationship between selenium intake \& plasma selenium-status. This study will also examine the relationship (if any) between the selenium intake of all participants via the different types of parsnips, and their individual blood-selenium levels. This will be assessed via blood tests before, during and after the trial in order to observe the blood-selenium levels of each participant. It is hypothesised that the blood-selenium levels of participants of lower initial selenium readings will be the most improved upon consumption of selenium-enriched parsnips.