The Effect of Bolus Taste on Oral and Pharyngeal Transit of Patients with Stroke

Objective. To evaluate the effect of different bolus flavors in oral and pharyngeal transit duration of patients with stroke and normal volunteers. Method. The investigation had the participation of 36 patients (44-82 years, mean age: 63 years) with occurrence of stroke from 1 month to 84 months (median: 5.5 months) and 30 normal subjects (33-85 years, mean age: 59 years) who comprised the control group. The scintigraphic method was used to evaluate the oral and pharyn geal transit. Each subject swallowed in random sequence 5 mL of a liquid bolus of bitter, sour, sweet, and neutral taste, all labeled with 37 MBq of 99m Technetium coupled with phytate. Results. Oral transit was longer in patients with stroke than in the control subjects for the sweet, bitter and sour tastes. Pharyngeal transit and clearance was longer in patients with stroke for the sweet and bitter tastes. In both groups there were no differences between neutral, sweet, sour or bitter tastes. Conclusion. Bolus tastes evaluated did not change oral and pharyngeal transit in normal subjects and patients with stroke.