Taste disorder's management: a systematic review

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#humans #oral-hygiene #saliva-artificial #taste-disorders #treatment-outcome

Taste disorder's management: a systematic review

Braud et al., 2020 | Clin Oral Investig | Systematic Review

Citation

Braud Adeline, Boucher Yves. Taste disorder's management: a systematic review. Clin Oral Investig. 2020-Jun;24(6):1889-1908. doi:10.1007/s00784-020-03299-0

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Taste disorder is a frequent drug-induced or disease-related oral trouble. Various pharmacological, surgical, or physical treatments have previously been proposed for taste function recovery. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present systematic review was to assess the effects of palliative and curative interventions on taste recovery in light of recent literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, a search of the literature published up to June 2019 was conducted using MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, and The US National Institutes of Health Trials Register (PROSPERO registration reference: CRD 42019139315). The methodological quality of the included trials was rated with the "Delphi list For Quality Assessment of Randomized Clinical Trials" and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. RESULTS: From the 1842 titles first identified, 28 articles met the inclusion criteria. Interventions included zinc (aspartate, sulfate, gluconate, acetate, picolinate, and Polaprezinc®), esomeprazole, L-thyroxin, bethanechol, oral glutamine, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, alpha-lipoic acid, Ginkgo biloba, artificial saliva, pilocarpine, local anesthesia, and improved oral hygiene. The quality of evidence ranged from poor to high. CONCLUSION: Improving oral hygiene may promote taste ability. Zinc may prevent and alleviate taste disorder in patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The systematic review provided evidence about the clinical efficacy of oral procedures, zinc supplementation, and palliative cares in dysgeusic patients. Further research is needed to find effective treatments with low adverse effects.

Key Findings

From the 1842 titles first identified, 28 articles met the inclusion criteria. Interventions included zinc (aspartate, sulfate, gluconate, acetate, picolinate, and Polaprezinc®), esomeprazole, L-thyroxin, bethanechol, oral glutamine, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, alpha-lipoic acid, Ginkgo biloba, artificial saliva, pilocarpine, local anesthesia, and improved oral hygiene. The quality of evidence ranged from poor to high.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Oral Hygiene
  • Saliva, Artificial
  • Taste Disorders
  • Treatment Outcome

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: ginkgo

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09