Taste function in methadone-maintained opioid-dependent men.
It has been shown repeatedly that opioid dependence is associated with increased consumption of refined sugars. It is possible that this association results from altered taste reactivity in opioid-dependent subjects. Thus, in the present study, we compared taste responses to sweet, bitter, sour and salty solutions in methadone-maintained opioid-dependent men and healthy control subjects. The two groups did not differ in terms of rated intensity or pleasantness of sucrose (1-30%), quinine (0.001-0.005%), citric acid (0.02-0.1%) and sodium chloride (0.18-0.9%) solutions. Proportions of 'sweet-likers', i.e. subjects rating a 30% sucrose (0.88 M) solution as the most pleasant, were also similar in both groups. In line with the previous findings, the methadone-maintained subjects reported adding more table sugar to caffeinated beverages. The results of the present study suggest that changes in taste reactivity may not be responsible for altered dietary choices in opioid addicts.
Bogucka-Bonikowska
Anna
A
Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, ul. Sobieskiego 9, PL-02957 Warsaw, Poland.
Baran-Furga
Helena
H
Chmielewska
Karina
K
Habrat
Boguslaw
B
Scinska
Anna
A
Kukwa
Andrzej
A
Koros
Eliza
E
Kostowski
Wojciech
W
Polanowska
Elzbieta
E
Bienkowski
Przemyslaw
P
D000328:Adult; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D013395:Sucrose / Q000494:pharmacology; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000209:etiology*
D009294:Narcotics; D019343:Citric Acid; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013395:Sucrose; D008691:Methadone