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Causative factors of taste disorders in the elderly, and therapeutic effects of zinc

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 June 2007

M Ikeda ,
A Ikui ,
A Komiyama ,
D Kobayashi  and
M Tanaka
M Ikeda*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
A Ikui
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
A Komiyama
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
D Kobayashi
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
M Tanaka
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Minoru Ikeda, Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Oyaguchi-kamimachi, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan. Fax: +81 3 3972 1321 E-mail: mikeda@med.nihon-u.ac.jp
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Abstract

Objectives:

To determine the characteristics of causative factors of taste disorders amongst the elderly, and to examine the therapeutic effect of a zinc agent, taking into account age-related factors.

Subjects:

A total of 408 patients with taste disorders were divided into three groups by age: 49 years or younger, 50 to 64 years old, and 65 years or older.

Results:

The incidence of taste disorders caused by drug administration and systemic disease were significantly higher in the elderly group. A serum zinc concentration of 69 µg/dl or lower was found in 33 per cent of the elderly group, significantly more (p < 0.001) than the 19 per cent of the 49 years or younger group with such a concentration. Zinc administration was therapeutically effective in 70 per cent of the whole population studied, and in 74 per cent of the elderly population.

Conclusions:

In the elderly, the incidence of taste disorders caused by drug administration or systemic disease was significantly greater compared with other age groups. The curative effects of zinc administration were not observed to be influenced by age.

Keywords

TasteAgedZinc
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 122 , Issue 2 , February 2008 , pp. 155 - 160
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2007

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