Taste disorder's management: a systematic review

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.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; Dysgeusia; Intervention; Oral health; Taste.