title: The evaluation of olfactory function in individuals with chronic halitosis.
abstract: Halitosis and olfactory dysfunction may disrupt an individual's quality of life remarkably. One may ask whether halitosis has effects on olfactory functions or not? Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the olfactory abilities of subjects with chronic halitosis evaluated using the measurements of volatile sulfur compounds. This study was carried out in 77 subjects, with a mean age of 40.1±13.3 years, ranging from 18 to 65 years. Forty-three participants were diagnosed as halitosis according to the gas chromatography results and constituted the halitosis group. Also, a control group was created from individuals without a complaint of halitosis and also who had normal values for volatile sulfur compounds. Each subject's orthonasal olfactory and retronasal olfactory functions were assessed using "Sniffin' Sticks" and retronasal olfactory testing. The results showed that odor threshold scores were lower in participants with halitosis compared with controls. Also, hyposmia was seen more common in the halitosis group than in controls. Moreover, a significant negative correlation was found between odor threshold scores and volatile sulfur compounds levels, particularly with hydrogen sulfide and dimethyl sulfide levels. The results suggest that the chronic presence of volatile sulfur compounds may have a negative effect on olfactory function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Istanbul Surgery Hospital, Ferah Sok. No. 22, Nisantası, 34365 Istanbul, Turkey, aaltundagkbb@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Aytug
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altundag
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Otorhinolaryngology, Amasya University S.S. Training and Research Hospital, Kirazlidere, 05100 Amasya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Melih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cayonu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital, Adnan Menderes Cad., 54290 Adapazari, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gurkan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kayabasoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Tibbiye cad., 34668 Uskudar, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salihoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Tibbiye cad., 34668 Uskudar, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tekeli
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Oral Health Care Center, Gokmedrese, 05100 Amasya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sibel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cayonu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Halaskargazi cad., 34371 Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey and.
authors.forename: Meltem Esen
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Akpinar
authors.affiliation: Taste and Smell Clinic, TU Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hummel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006209:Halitosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009812:Odorants; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000187:drug effects; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D013440:Sulfides / Q000494:pharmacology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D013440:Sulfides; C004784:dimethyl sulfide; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide
keywords: gas chromatography; halitosis; hyposmia; olfaction