Taste threshold determinations on dyspeptic patients and on blind controls.

Taste threshold detection and recognition were determined on 46 dyspeptic patients and on 42 blind controls. Among the dyspeptic patients 60% suffered from different taste disorders. Among the blind controls the frequency of taste disorder was 41%. Among the dyspeptic patients heterogeusia and dysgeusia dominated, threefold compared to the control blind persons. A mild hypergeusia appeared among the patients in 21%, among the blind in 8%. There was an enhanced hypergeusia in the group of blind persons (16%), but this was found in the group of dyspeptic patients in only 4%. It is suggested that the hypergeusia may also be a compensatory function, a consequence of the loss of seeing. There was an inverse ratio between the taste acuity and taste preference. The taste threshold to the preferred taste in both groups was higher, therefore more food was needed to stimulate the taste nerves.