Subjective Taste and Smell Changes in Conjunction with Anxiety and Depression Are Associated with Symptoms in Patients with Functional Constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Table 4
Breakdown of the detailed taste complaints from the taste and smell survey.
Healthy controls ()
FC ()
IBS ()
Foods taste different than they used to
Yes
12 (12.50)
35 (30.43)
42 (33.33)
No
84 (87.50)
80 (69.57)
84 (66.67)
I have noticed a change in my sense of taste
Yes
6 (6.25)
30 (26.09)
36 (28.57)
No
90 (93.75)
85 (73.91)
90 (71.43)
I have a persistent bad taste in mouth
Yes
6 (6.25)
45 (39.13)
60 (47.62)
No
90 (93.75)
70 (60.87)
66 (52.38)
Drugs interfere with my sense of taste
Yes
0 (0.00)
40 (34.78)
48 (38.10)
No
96 (100.00)
75 (65.22)
78 (61.90)
Comparison of sense of taste now to before diagnosis
I have noticed a change in salt
Yes
Salt tastes stronger
6 (6.25)
10 (8.70)
18 (14.29)
Salt tastes weaker
6 (6.25)
40 (34.78)
36 (28.57)
Cannot taste
0 (0.00)
5 (4.35)
6 (4.76)
No
84 (87.50)
60 (52.17)
66 (52.38)
I have noticed a change in sweet
Yes
Sweet tastes stronger
12 (12.50)
10 (8.70)
18 (14.29)
Sweet tastes weaker
6 (6.25)
20 (17.39)
36 (28.57)
Cannot taste
0 (0.00)
0 (0.00)
0 (0.00)
No
78 (81.25)
85 (73.91)
72 (57.14)
I have noticed a change in sour
Yes
Sour tastes stronger
0 (0.00)
15 (13.04)
12 (9.53)
Sour tastes weaker
12 (12.50)
20(17.39)
30 (23.81)
Cannot taste
0 (0.00)
5 (4.35)
6 (4.76)
No
84 (87.50)
75 (65.22)
78 (61.90)
I have noticed a change in bitter
Yes
Bitter tastes stronger
6 (6.25)
20 (17.39)
36 (28.57)
Bitter tastes weaker
6 (6.25)
15 (13.04)
24 (19.05)
Cannot taste
0 (0.00)
5 (4.35)
6 (4.76)
No
84 (87.50)
75 (65.22)
60 (47.62)
Rate abnormal sense of taste
Insignificant
90 (93.75)
80 (69.57)
96 (76.19)
Mild to moderate
6 (6.25)
25 (21.74)
24 (19.05)
Severe to intolerable
0 (0.00)
10 (8.70)
6 (4.76)
Data are expressed as (%). FC: functional constipation; IBS: irritable bowel syndrome.
