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A state-of-the-art review of the management and treatment of taste and smell alterations in adult oncology patients

Supportive Care in Cancer volume 23, pages 2843–2851 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this review was to examine studies of interventions for the prevention and management of taste and smell alterations (TSA) experienced by adult oncology patients.

Methods

Articles published between 1993 and 2013 were identified by searching CINAHL, MEDLINE and Food Science & Technology Abstracts (FSTA) and were included if they were in English and focused on adult oncology patients. Only interventions within the scope of nursing practice were reviewed.

Results

Twelve articles were identified for inclusion. Four research groups examined zinc supplementation, with two claiming that zinc supplementation was an effective intervention and two claiming it had no effect on TSA. The remaining research groups examined eight other interventions, with varying results. Marinol, megestrol acetate and Synsepalum dulcificum interventions appear promising.

Conclusion

Based on this review, there does not yet appear to be an effective approach for preventing or managing TSA in adult oncology patients. Although some interventions show promise, further research is necessary to determine their efficacy.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests. The authors have full control of all primary data and permit the journal to review the data if requested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Trina Thorne

  2. Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, 4-359 ECHA, 11405 87 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1C9, Canada

    Karin Olson

  3. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, 3-18C Agriculture/Forestry Ctr, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2P5, Canada

    Wendy Wismer

  4. Youville Home, 9A St. Vital Avenue, St. Albert, Alberta, T8N 1K1, Canada

    Trina Thorne

Authors
  1. Trina Thorne
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  2. Karin Olson
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  3. Wendy Wismer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Trina Thorne.

Appendix A

Appendix A

Table 1 Summary of methodological elements and findings
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Thorne, T., Olson, K. & Wismer, W. A state-of-the-art review of the management and treatment of taste and smell alterations in adult oncology patients. Support Care Cancer 23, 2843–2851 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2827-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2827-1

Keywords

  • Taste
  • Smell
  • Dysgeusia
  • Chemosensory
  • Neoplasm
  • Cancer