title: Taste acuity in response to zinc supplementation in older Europeans.
abstract: Taste acuity declines with age and may be dependent upon Zn status. The aim of the present double-blind, randomised controlled intervention trial has been to determine taste acuity in response to Zn supplementation (placebo, or 15 or 30 mg Zn/d). Healthy older European adults aged 70-87 years were recruited within Italy (Rome) (n 108) and France (Grenoble) (n 91) to the European Commission-funded Zenith project. A signal detection theory approach was adopted for taste assessment. The data were converted to R indices and analysed by repeated-measures ANOVA controlling for baseline taste acuity as well as serum and erythrocyte Zn. Serum Zn increased post-intervention, indicating compliance with the intervention. Results differed across geographical region. Salt taste acuity was greater in response to Zn (30 mg) than placebo post-intervention among those recruited in Grenoble. There was no apparent change in acuity for sweet, sour or bitter taste in response to Zn. Supplemented Zn may have potential to enhance salt taste acuity in those over the age of 70 years. Further research is required to determine if enhanced salt taste acuity is reflected in the eating experiences of older individuals.
authors.affiliation: Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health, University of Ulster, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK. B.knox@ulster.ac.uk
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Stewart-Knox
authors.forename: Ellen E A
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Parr
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rae
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polito
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Intorre
authors.forename: Maud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andriollo Sanchez
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meunier
authors.forename: Jacqueline M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maiani
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coudray
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Strain
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012384:Rome; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013652:Taste Threshold; D044465:White People; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride; D015032:Zinc