A double-blind study of the therapeutic efficacy of zinc gluconate on taste disorder.

The therapeutic efficacy of orally given zinc gluconate on taste disorder was investigated by a double-blind study in 98 patients with a chief complaint of this disease. The subjects were divided into two 49-patient groups and were orally given zinc gluconate or the placebo for up to 4 months. Improvement of taste examination and subjective symptoms was analyzed in 65 of the subjects. Although no significant difference was detected between the two groups in overall efficacy, a significant superiority of zinc gluconate to placebo was observed in patients with idiopathic and zinc-deficient taste disorder. Comparison of the improvement by Ridit analysis showed a significant therapeutic superiority of zinc gluconate. In contrast, comparison of the degree of subjective symptomatic changes.