Attempts to measure bitterness in patients with spontaneous abnormal taste using taste sensors.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K10264
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 57080:Social dentistry-related
• Research Institution: Niigata University
• Principal Investigator: Funayama Saori 新潟大学, 医歯学総合病院, 医員 (30422611)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 井上 誠 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 教授 (00303131) ; 山崎 学 新潟大学, 医歯学系, 准教授 (10547516) ; 藤村 忍 新潟大学, 自然科学系, 教授 (20282999) ; 伊藤 加代子 新潟大学, 医歯学総合病院, 助教 (80401735) ; 濃野 要 新潟大学, 医歯学総合病院, 講師 (80422608)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 自発性異常味覚 / 味覚障害 / 苦味

Outline of Final Research Achievements

[Background] It is difficult to quantitatively evaluate spontaneous abnormal taste. In this study, we attempted to quantify the "bitterness" complained of by patients using a taste sensor.
[Methods] Resting saliva samples were collected from subjects who did not have spontaneous abnormal taste of bitterness and from patients who had spontaneous abnormal taste of bitterness. The bitter taste in the collected saliva was measured by a taste sensor, and the results of the control group and each patient were compared.
[Results and Discussion] Four of the patients showed responses that exceeded the 2 SD of the control group, and two of the patients who were able to follow the progress of the disease showed a significant decrease in response at symptom resolution, which was within the 2 SD. These results suggest that in some cases, the taste sensor can be used to quantify the spontaneous abnormal taste of bitterness.

Free Research Field

味覚障害

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

味覚障害のうち，自発性異常味覚は「安静時の口の中の味」を有するものであり，定量的，客観的な評価ができない．最も多い主訴は苦味である．そこで本研究では，味を定量化することができる味覚センサを用いて，患者の訴える「苦味」の定量化を試みた．結果，定量化できるケースがあったことで，患者の訴えを可視化できることが示唆されたことは，診断治療の大きな一助となり，ひいては患者のQOLの向上に大いに貢献できるものと考える．