Dietary evaluation of patients with smell and/or taste disorders

Abstract

The impact of smell and taste disorders on dietary habits and nutritional status has received limited research attention. This paper reports findings obtained from questionnaires and diet records completed by 40 healthy subjects and 118 patients with chemosensory dysfunction. Chemosensory disorders were frequently associated with decreases in food acceptability. Although dietary responses to these dysfunctions varied greatly, patients with distorted or phantom smell and/or taste sensations tended to report weight loss whereas those with simple sensory loss were more likely to report weight gain. Indices derived from diet records did not indicate that either group of patients was at substantial nutritional risk, but food frequency responses and estimates of body mass index were consistent with patient reports of changes in dietary patterns and weight. In addition, marked weight change and aberrant dietary practices were noted in individual patients. Thus, there were indications that chemosensory dysfunction may be associated with nutritionally important dietary alterations.

Taste and smell dysfunction in childhood cancer survivors

“…The division mechanism is sensitive to the effects of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy [4]. The senses of taste and smell are integral in motivating a person's food preferences [5][6] and both child and adult cancer patients commonly attribute difficulties maintaining food intake to the altered taste developed during treatment [1,[7][8]. Altered taste in cancer patients has also been associated with decreased energy and nutrient intake [9], potentially leading to nutrient deficiencies [10].…”

Olfactory Evaluation in Children: Application to the CHARGE Syndrome

“…Studies on behavior in adults with olfaction disorders, in particular patients with Kallmann syndrome, are rare and do not show major effects of hyposmia, suggesting that hyposmic patients compensate for their deficit by other sensorial and cognitive means. [19][20][21] Moreover, in humans, especially in Western and so-called developed cultures, the sense of smell is not well taught or stimulated.…”

Effect of dietary supplements and physical exercise on sensory perception, appetite, dietary intake and body weight in frail elderly subjects

“…A few studies con®rmed this relationship, especially in sick (Schiffman, 1983a, b;Schiffman & Warwick, 1993), but also in healthy elderly subjects (Griep et al 1996). Others failed to detect an association between taste and smell perception, food acceptability and a substantial reduced energy or nutrient intake in apparently healthy elderly (Ferris & Duffy, 1989;Mattes et al 1990;Mattes & Cowart, 1994).…”