Aims: The primary objective of this study was to validate a novel Bile Acid Sequestrant Acceptability (BASA) Scale intended to assess the acceptability and/or tolerability of bile acid sequestrant (BAS) beverage preparations. A secondary objective was to assess the utility of weightings based on subjective clinical importance for the BASA scale individual components and its composite score.
Methods: This was a randomised, single-blind, single site, controlled study of oral administration of 4 g of orange-flavoured generic cholestyramine powder, 12 g of orange-flavoured generic cholestyramine powder and an orange-flavoured sweetened control drink powder, each mixed with water.
Results: The study sample included 42 subjects; 26 men and 16 women. Participants were non-Hispanic white (76.2%) or black/African American (23.8%), with a mean age of 51.4 years and body mass index of 30.1 kg/m(2). The components of the BASA scale were taste, texture, appearance and mixability; the possible total BASA scores ranged being 4-20; the higher the BASA scale score, the better the acceptability/tolerability. Composite BASA scale scores were significantly lower for the 4 g (mean BASA score = 10.3) and 12 g (mean BASA score = 9.4) cholestyramine compared with the control drink powder (mean BASA score = 16.7) (p < 0.001). BASA scale scores did not significantly differ between the 4 and 12 g of cholestyramine. (p = 0.215). Weighting of the components did not materially alter the results. Findings for the individual components of the BASA scale were similar to the composite values.
Conclusion: The BASA scale effectively distinguished between an orange-flavoured BAS powder and a commercial orange-flavour control powder.