Bitter taste perception and severe vomiting in pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Genetics
• Obstetrics

Background:

• Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a severe pregnancy complication with unknown causes, potentially impacting maternal and fetal health.
• Bitter taste perception is genetically influenced and can be affected by cranial nerve damage.
• Understanding HG etiology may involve exploring sensory perception alterations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between genetic bitter-taste perception and a history of hyperemesis gravidarum.
• To explore differences in taste perception, dysgeusia, and taste-related pathology between women with and without a history of HG.
• To determine if specific patterns of taste sensation correlate with HG risk.

Main Methods:

• Sixty women were grouped into high-vomit (n=21) and low-vomit (n=39) based on vomiting history.
• Genetic bitter-taste perception was assessed using 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP).
• A subsample rated taste intensities (NaCl, sucrose, citric acid, quinine HCl) on different oral areas innervated by cranial nerves VII and IX.

Main Results:

• The high-vomit group had fewer non-tasters of PROP and reported dysgeusia more frequently.
• Significant differences emerged in quinine hydrochloride bitterness perception between groups.
• High-vomit women perceived less bitterness on the anterior tongue but more on the posterior tongue and palate.

Conclusions:

• Altered spatial taste perception, particularly heightened bitterness on the posterior tongue and palate, may be linked to dysgeusia in women with HG.
• This distinct taste perception pattern could represent altered oral sensations increasing hyperemesis gravidarum risk during pregnancy.
• Further research into sensory alterations may elucidate HG pathogenesis.