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Chemosensory function and diet in HIV‐infected patients
Author(s) -
Mattes Richard D.,
Wysocki Charles J.,
Graziani Amy,
Macgregor Rob Roy
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1288/00005537-199508000-00018
Subject(s) - taste , odor , medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , physiology , sensory system , immunology , audiology , biology , food science , neuroscience
Alterations of chemosensory function have been noted in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected patients, but their frequency, severity, and relationship to diet have not been adequately assessed. Odor and taste identification tests and a taste‐intensity scaling task were administered to 25 men who were HIV‐infected but otherwise healthy. Responses were compared to those of 49 comparably aged male control subjects. Dietary information was obtained by questionnaire. Although 72% of HIV‐infected patients reported some chemosensory alteration, no significant differences in taste identification ability or intensity ratings were observed between patients and controls. Twelve percent of patients had poor odor identification scores, but the group mean was similar to that of controls. Neither measured nor self‐reported sensory indices were significantly related to any variable of health ( e.g ., HIV helper cell (CD4) count, body weight, or body composition), treatment, or diet.