Statistical approach to drug-induced taste disorders based on zinc chelating ability

Various drug-induced taste disorders have been ascribed to zinc deficiency in serum. Assuming that the zinc deficiency is caused by the chelating reaction of zinc ions with drugs, the electrode potential of the Zn(2+)/Zn(Hg) system was measured in the presence of drugs in water, ethanol, and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). The zinc-chelating ability was estimated based on the potential change Delta E(2) with the addition of a drug. A large potential change suggesting potent chelating ability was observed in penicillamine, furosemide, and ibuprofen in ethanol and in fluorouracil, acetazolamide, and bezafibrate in DMF. Multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the observed Delta E(2) in mV to represent chelating ability. The regression equation to estimate the frequency of taste disorders was deduced from Delta E(2), and frequency of four drugs appeared in package inserts and interview forms. According to the regression equation, the frequency of taste disorders was successfully estimated for 14 drugs examined in this study. The result was examined in a clinical case.