Zinc sulfate taste acuity reflects dietary zinc intake in males.
*Nutrition assessment; *Nutrition Assessment; *Nutritional deficiency; *Taste; *Taste perception; *Taste Perception; *Zinc deficiency; *Zinc taste test; Adolescent; Adult; Astringents/*metabolism; Deficiency Diseases/*diagnosis/etiology/metabolism/physiopathology; Diet/*adverse effects; Female; Humans; Male; Nutritional Status; Reproducibility of Results; Self Report; Sex Characteristics; Students; Universities; West Virginia; Young Adult; Zinc Sulfate/*metabolism; Zinc/administration & dosage/*deficiency
Gauging an individual's response after they taste a solution of zinc sulfate has been proposed as a method of determining nutritional zinc deficiency, a so-called "zinc taste test." Despite the lack of evidence regarding any relationship between dietary zinc intake and zinc sulfate taste acuity, clinicians continue to utilize zinc sulfate taste testing with their patients. Therefore, assessing the relationship between zinc sulfate taste acuity and dietary zinc intake is warranted. This report assessed 363 individuals (77 males, 286 females) for zinc sulfate taste acuity and dietary zinc intake. Zinc sulfate taste acuity was assessed by both the Bryce-Smith & Simpson zinc taste test (BSZTT) and the taste intensity visual analog scale (TIVAS). Dietary intake of zinc was assessed by a zinc-specific food frequency questionnaire (ZnFFQ). Zinc sulfate taste acuity, as measured by the TIVAS, was found to be significantly different between the sexes (U = 8766; p = 0.013). Males averaged a TIVAS score of 21.58 +/- 2.52 (Mean +/- SEM) whereas females had a TIVAS score averaging 31.49 +/- 1.67. No correlations were found between female zinc sulfate taste perception and dietary zinc intake as measured by both the BSZTT (rs = 0.014; p = 0.816) and the TIVAS (rs = 0.025; p = 0.679). Similarly, male zinc intake was not correlated with BSZTT scores (rs = 0.199; p = 0.099). However, zinc sulfate taste acuity, measured by the TIVAS, was significantly correlated with dietary zinc intake in the male population (rs = 0.237; p = 0.048). These findings suggest that zinc sulfate taste acuity measurement may aid in the assessment of zinc nutriture among males.
Zdilla Matthew J; Saling Julia R; Starkey Leah D
Clinical nutrition ESPEN
2016
2016-02
Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2015.11.004" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1016/j.clnesp.2015.11.004</a>
A Taste-intensity Visual Analog Scale: An Improved Zinc Taste-test Protocol.
West Virginia; Human; Funding Source; Data Analysis Software; Correlation Coefficient; Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficient; Experimental Studies; Regression; T-Tests; Protocols; Solutions; Statistical Significance; Visual Analog Scaling; Taste – Evaluation; Zinc – Blood; Zinc Sulfate – Analysis
CONTEXT: Studies employing methods for measurement of zinc sulfate taste acuity have had diverse results, and although the studies have had limitations in design and implementation, they have suggested salient findings beyond the assessment of taste acuity. These findings have included, but were not limited to, relationships between zinc sulfate taste acuity and weight, levels of serum zinc, diastolic hypertension, levels of salivary carbonic anhydrase 6, and frequency of illness. However, current protocols for zinc sulfate taste assessment are problematic and warrant improvement. OBJECTIVE: The current study intended to compare the ranking scale for the original Bryce-Smith and Simpson zinc taste test (BS-ZTT) with a novel, taste-intensity visual analog scale (TI-VAS) to explore the potential for improved zinc sulfate taste-acuity measurement. DESIGN: Participants were administered a 0.1% solution of zinc sulfate and assessed using the 2 scales. SETTING: The study took place at West Liberty University, in West Liberty, WV, USA. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 500 West Liberty University students who volunteered to participate in the study. RESULTS: A strong, statistically significant, positive correlation existed between the BS-ZTT and the TI-VAS scores (r s = 0.79; P \textless .0001; n = 491). CONCLUSIONS: The study found that the BS-ZTT offered a limited number of ordinal variable ranks and depended on an examiner's evaluation. Conversely, the TI-VAS had an expanded range of variables and was independent of the examiner. The TI-VAS can be used as a taste-acuity test for zinc sulfate and as a benchmark for future analyses of zinc sulfate taste acuity and zinc taste tests.
Zdilla Matthew J; Starkey Leah D; Saling Julia R
Integrative medicine (Encinitas, Calif.)
2015
2015-04
Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).