title: Zinc supplementation at conventional doses does not improve the disturbance of taste perception in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of zinc supplementation on taste perception in a group of hemodialysis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study in a teaching hospital dialysis unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen stable hemodialysis patients randomized to placebo (6 male, 2 female; median age, 67; range, 30 to 72 years) or treatment (5 male, 2 female; median age, 60; range, 31 to 76 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Treatment group received zinc sulfate 220 mg per day for 6 weeks, and the placebo group received an apparently identical dummy pill.
  
  
  METHODS
  Taste scores by visual analogue scales, normalized protein catabolic rate and plasma, whole blood and red cell zinc levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, sweet and salt tastes were identified correctly by both groups. Sour was often confused with salt. Sour solutions of different concentrations were not distinguishable. Taste scores were not different after 6 weeks for either group. There was no significant increment in zinc levels or normalized protein catabolic rate for either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found a disturbance of taste perception in hemodialysis patients, particularly for the sour modality, which was not corrected by this regimen of zinc supplementation. These results cast doubts on the conclusions of earlier studies that indicated an improvement in taste after zinc supplementation.
authors.affiliation: Leeds University Medical School, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matson
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Alister
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Woodrow
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dye
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blundell
authors.forename: Aleck
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brownjohn
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood; D019287:Zinc Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D015032:Zinc