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Gustatory changes associated with the menstrual cycle
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. BXI04341@niftyserve.or.jp
Physiology & Behavior
|May 21, 1999
Summary
Taste function changes minimally during the menstrual cycle. While some women report increased appetite before menstruation, objective taste tests show only slight, subjectively undetectable changes in gustatory thresholds.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
Background:
- The menstrual cycle involves hormonal fluctuations that can influence various physiological processes.
- Changes in appetite and food preferences are anecdotally linked to the menstrual cycle.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate objective changes in gustatory function across the menstrual cycle.
- To correlate subjective appetite changes with objective taste sensitivity measurements.
Main Methods:
- Electrogustometry and filter-paper disk testing were used to assess taste thresholds.
- 30 healthy females with regular cycles were studied during follicular and luteal phases.
- A questionnaire assessed subjective appetite changes.
Main Results:
- Electrogustometry showed a statistically significant but subjectively indiscernible decrease in taste threshold for the chorda tympani nerve in the luteal phase.
- No significant differences in taste thresholds were found for the glossopharyngeal nerve or via filter-paper disk testing.
- 46.7% of participants reported enhanced appetite before menstruation.
Conclusions:
- Taste function exhibits minimal objective changes throughout the menstrual cycle.
- Reported appetite changes do not correlate with significant, discriminable alterations in gustatory thresholds.
- Gustatory sensitivity remains within the normal range despite hormonal shifts during the menstrual cycle.