title: Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Has Negative Effects on Taste and Smell Functions.
abstract: We evaluated the halimetric, olfactory, and taste functions of patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).
  
  
  
  Prospective clinical study.
  
  
  
  Multicenter tertiary care hospital.
  
  
  
  Patients who were diagnosed with LPR for the first time on the basis of a Reflux Finding Score (RFS) >11 and a Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) >13 were enrolled in this study. A control group was selected from patients without a complaint of LPR. OralChroma was used for the halimetric measurement; Sniffin' Sticks were used for the smelling test; Taste Strips were used for the taste test; and monosodium L-glutamate was used for the umami test.
  
  
  
  A total of 110 subjects were included, with a mean age of 36.8 ± 10 years (range, 19-57 years). The differences in odor threshold scores were significant between the groups (P < .001), but no change was detected for the odor identification or discrimination scores between the groups. Bitter taste scores were significantly diminished in the reflux group compared with those in the control group (P = .001), whereas no impairments were found in the other taste scores (sweet, salty, and sour). The reflux group had significantly higher umami taste scores than those of the control group for the posterior tongue and soft palate anatomic sites (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively). Dimethyl sulfite levels were significantly higher in the reflux group than in the control (P = .001).
  
  
  
  Questioning patients who present with halitosis, taste, or smelling disorders is important to diagnose LPR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Istanbul Surgery Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey aaltundagkbb@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Aytug
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altundag
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Amasya University SS Training and Research Hospital, Amasya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Melih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cayonu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, GATA Haydarpasa Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salihoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Balikesir University, Balikesir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasmet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yazıcı
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Erzincan Military Hospital, Erzincan, Turkey.
authors.forename: Onuralp
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ankara Koru Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Esin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yalcınkaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kasımpasa Military Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Saglam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057045:Laryngopharyngeal Reflux / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: halitosis; laryngopharyngeal reflux; olfaction; taste; umami