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Primary Taste Thresholds in Children with Leukemia Undergoing Marrow Transplantation
Author(s) -
Barale Karen,
Aker Saundra N.,
Martinsen Charlene S.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1177/0148607182006004287
Subject(s) - medicine , taste , significant difference , leukemia , transplantation , acute leukemia , gastroenterology , anesthesia , pediatrics , food science , biology
Taste threshold for the four basic tastes were determined to assess taste impairment in 11 children with acute leukemia undergoing marrow transplantation and in 20 normal children. Thresholds were measured on admission, 2 days, and 45 days after transplant using the Up‐Down Staircase method. No significant difference was noted between patients at admission and the control group for sweet, bitter, or salt. There was a significant difference between patients and controls for the sour threshold ( p = 0.006). Patient threshold values on day 2 and day 45 posttransplant were compared with admission values. No significant differences were seen, except for the salt threshold which was increased at day 2 posttransplant when compared with the admission values. We conclude that only minor changes in taste thresholds were demonstrated in this study. These changes probably do not account for abnormal food tastes reported by patients.