Taste hyposensitivity in Japanese schoolchildren
Mari Ohnuki, Masayuki Ueno1, Takashi Zaitsu
1Department of Oral Health Promotion, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. ueno.ohp@tmd.ac.jp.
BMC Oral Health
|April 15, 2014
Summary
This study found that 6.0%-20.9% of Japanese schoolchildren experienced taste hyposensitivity, with little connection to their oral health. Further research is needed to understand taste disorders in younger populations.
Area of Science:
- Oral health research
- Sensory science
- Pediatric health
Background:
- Limited research exists on taste disorders in young populations, unlike in the elderly.
- Taste hyposensitivity prevalence and its link to oral health in schoolchildren remain understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of taste hyposensitivity in Japanese schoolchildren.
- To explore the relationship between taste hyposensitivity and oral health status in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 349 Japanese schoolchildren (ages 6-15) from Saitama Prefecture.
- Oral examinations and whole-mouth taste tests for sweet, salt, sour, and bitter tastes were performed.
- Hyposensitivity was defined as the inability to recognize the taste of a solution.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of taste hyposensitivity ranged from 6.0% (bitter) to 20.9% (sour).
- Sweet, sour, and bitter taste hyposensitivity decreased with grade advancement, while salt taste hyposensitivity increased in older students.
- Bitter taste hyposensitivity was more common in younger boys than girls, with minimal association found between taste hyposensitivity and oral health indicators.
Conclusions:
- Taste hyposensitivity affects a notable percentage of schoolchildren (6.0%-20.9%).
- Oral health status showed little correlation with taste hyposensitivity in this age group.
- Factors influencing taste hyposensitivity in children may differ from adults, necessitating further investigation into causes within younger populations.
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