Recognition of taste in patients during antineoplastic therapy with platinum drugs

Taste changes caused by the use of platinum drugs have been described. However, few studies qualify the impaired tastes and whether these changes are derived exclusively from chemotherapy (QTx).

Evaluation of changes in sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami tastes in patients receiving QTx with platinum drugs was the aim of this study.

A total of 43 subjects, 21 from the study group and 22 from the control, were studied in two time periods, one before the start of QTx (T0) and another after two cycles of QTx (T1). The usual dietary intake, body mass index (BMI), handgrip strength and fatigue (through the fatigue pictogram) were evaluated to characterize the group studied. Taste Strips tests were performed for all 4 tastes and umami was studied by comparing Likert's scale using monosodium glutamate (GMS) food. Statistical analysis was performed using repeated measures (ANOVA), mixed model, with significance level p≤0.05.

Salty and sour were the most affected tastes in the study group (p = 0.001 and 0.05); as well as the ionotropic receptors (p = 0.02) responsible for identifying these tastes. There was a difference between the times for BMI, dynamometry and impact in daily activities, by the fatigue pictogram (p = 0.008, 0.009 and 0.006 respectively).

These findings suggest an important role in altering taste recognition, mainly in salty and sour tastes, identified by ionotropic receptors, which seems to be related to dietary changes. QTx has demonstrated a contribution to impairment of functionality and fatigue.