Abstract
Patients report changes in their perception of food tastes following cardiac surgery.
This study was designed to explore changes in taste sensitivity following coronary
artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Detection and recognition thresholds for sweet
(sucrose), salty (sodium chloride), sour (citric acid), and bitter (quinine hydrochloride)
were determined using the multiple forced-choice ascending concentration series method
at baseline (presurgical), discharge, 5 weeks, and 16 weeks post-CABG. Demographic
and gastrointestinal data were also obtained. Mixed-model analyses for repeated measures
were performed using the baseline scores as reference. Thirty-three patients (mean
age=61.8±8 years), consented to participate in the study between January 2003 and
January 2006, with 13 completing all visits. Detection and recognition thresholds
for sweet were significantly lower at discharge compared with baseline (1.7±1.2 vs
2.43±1.4 and 5.1±1.8 vs 5.5±1.3, respectively; P<0.05). This difference remained significant 4 months after surgery. Detection and
recognition thresholds for salt also declined with time, with significant differences
at 4 months post-surgery (2.3±2.0 vs 1.8±1.5; P<0.001 and 5.3±1.3 vs 4.2±2.2; P<0.05, respectively). The same trends were noted for the detection of sour and the
recognition of bitter. Patients undergoing CABG demonstrated stable or improved taste
sensitivity during the recovery period. Further studies aimed at clarifying the relationships
between the biological state, taste sensitivity, reported taste changes, and food
intake will help to clarify the clinical impact of taste changes and subsequently
to guide clinical nutrition care.
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Biography
M. Keith is coordinator of nutrition and dietetic education, Supply Chain and Support Services, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; she is also an associate scientist, Keenan Research Center, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and an assistant professor, Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Biography
R. Mokbel is a research coordinator, Heart Program, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Biography
J. Song is a clinical dietitian, Heart Program, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Biography
L. Errett is chief of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, Heart Program, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Biography
M. San Emeterio is a research volunteer, Supply Chain and Support Services, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
November 3,
2009
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 American Dietetic Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
