Effects of age, gender and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on taste acuity.
OBJECTIVE
Multifactoral interactions of age, gender and medical conditions were investigated because of lack of definitive results in previous studies.


METHODS
Absolute detection and recognition were determined thresholds using a three-alternative forced-choice test by younger men (n=50) and women (n=48); and by older men (n=43) and women (n=46) for each of the four basic tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, salty). Data from 46 elderly men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were included.


RESULTS
Age was consistently associated with elevated recognition thresholds for each of the four tastants for men only. Gender differences were seen for absolute sweet thresholds and for sour, bitter, and sweet recognition thresholds for older participants. Men with COPD had the highest levels for absolute and recognition thresholds for each tastant.


CONCLUSIONS
Gender plays a role in taste perception. COPD diminishes taste.
Wardwell
Laura
L
Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
Chapman-Novakofski
Karen
K
Brewer
M Susan
MS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D055697:Taste Perception; D013652:Taste Threshold; D055815:Young Adult