title: A double-blind study of the therapeutic efficacy of zinc gluconate on taste disorder.
abstract: The therapeutic efficacy of orally given zinc gluconate on taste disorder was investigated by a double-blind study in 98 patients with a chief complaint of this disease. The subjects were divided into two 49-patient groups and were orally given zinc gluconate or the placebo for up to 4 months. Improvement of taste examination and subjective symptoms was analyzed in 65 of the subjects. Although no significant difference was detected between the two groups in overall efficacy, a significant superiority of zinc gluconate to placebo was observed in patients with idiopathic and zinc-deficient taste disorder. Comparison of the improvement by Ridit analysis showed a significant therapeutic superiority of zinc gluconate. In contrast, comparison of the degree of subjective symptomatic changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tomita
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005942:Gluconates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D005942:Gluconates; C030691:gluconic acid