Deficient dietary intake of vitamin E in patients with taste and smell dysfunctions: is vitamin E a cofactor in taste bud and olfactory epithelium apoptosis and in stem cell maturation and development?
OBJECTIVE
We reviewed dietary intake of several nutrients in a large group of patients with taste and smell dysfunction, compared intake of these nutrients with standard values, and recognized that intake of vitamin E was significantly less than that of most other nutrients. Based on this observation we attempted to develop an hypothesis of the possible role vitamin E might play in these sensory disorders.


METHODS
Vitamin E intake was measured in 250 patients with taste and smell dysfunctions.


RESULTS
Intake of the vitamin was 3.2 +/- 0.2 mg/d (mean +/- standard error of the mean), or 36 +/- 2% of the recommended daily allowance, an intake significantly below that considered adequate. This diminished intake occurred with normal intake of total calories; protein; fat; carbohydrate; several vitamins, including thiamin, niacin, and pyridoxine; and the trace metals zinc, copper, and iron.


CONCLUSIONS
Although specific relations between vitamin E intake and smell and taste dysfunctions are unclear, the non-antioxidant roles of vitamin E indicate that it is a factor in apoptosis, cellular signaling, and growth of various cell lines, suggesting that this vitamin may play a role in growth and development of stem cells in taste buds and olfactory epithelium.
Henkin
R I
RI
The Taste and Smell Clinic, Washington, DC 20016, USA. rihenkin@earthlink.net
Hoetker
J D
JD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis; D015930:Diet Records; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000166:cytology*; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000502:physiology*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D014131:Trace Elements; D014815:Vitamins; D014810:Vitamin E