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Gustatory Function and Salivary Flow Rate in Healthy Adults
Xiaobing Huang1, Yichen Guo1, Yongxiang Wei1,2
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
The Laryngoscope
|December 22, 2021
Summary
Age and dry mouth impact taste and saliva in adults. Women have better taste sensitivity, but salivary flow rate isn't directly linked to taste function in healthy individuals.
Area of Science:
- Sensory science
- Oral physiology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Gustatory function and salivary flow rate (SFR) are crucial for oral health and quality of life.
- Age-related changes in taste and saliva can impact nutrition and well-being.
- Understanding the interplay between gustatory function, SFR, and dry mouth is essential for identifying risk factors and developing interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess gustatory function and whole-mouth saliva in healthy adults.
- To investigate the association between gustatory function, SFR, and dry mouth.
- To determine the influence of age and sex on taste and saliva.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive clinical study involving 413 healthy adults (19-80 years).
- Gustatory function assessed via whole-mouth taste tests.
- Salivary flow rate (SFR) measured using the spitting method.
- Dry mouth quantified using a visual analog scale.
Main Results:
- Total taste score (TTS) and SFR negatively correlated with age.
- TTS decreased significantly after age 50; SFR decreased after age 65.
- Women had significantly higher TTS than men; no sex difference in SFR.
- Dry mouth negatively correlated with TTS and SFR.
- Age, sex, and dry mouth predicted 34% of taste variation; age and dry mouth predicted 6.1% of saliva variation.
- No significant correlation between TTS and SFR in healthy adults.
Conclusions:
- Age and dry mouth are key factors influencing gustatory function and saliva.
- Women exhibit superior taste sensitivity compared to men.
- No direct correlation exists between salivary flow rate and gustatory function in healthy adults.
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