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Chemotherapy alters subjective senses of taste and smell but not dietary patterns in Japanese lung cancer patients

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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate how outpatient-based chemotherapy would alter the senses of taste and smell and affect daily dietary intake in patients with lung cancer.

Methods

The self-reported taste and smell alteration (TSA) in 35 Japanese patients with lung cancer as well as their patterns of dietary intake at home were tested using a questionnaire.

Results

The patients experienced considerable TSA, and smoking was shown to contribute to this alteration. Specifically, current or past smokers were more likely to experience subjective taste change during chemotherapy than never smokers were. Chemotherapy made steamed rice or sushi the most unfavorable food in the patients; on the other hand, Japanese-style noodles were the most preferred during chemotherapy. Nevertheless, the patients maintained their habit of consuming steamed rice at home at least once a day, suggesting the robustness of dietary habits despite the TSA caused by chemotherapy.

Conclusions

Nutritional assessment as well as appropriate advice and intervention by dietitians is expected to improve the general conditions and quality of daily living in patients with cancer.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the staff at Tsuchiura Kyodo General Hospital and graduates of the Laboratory of Clinical Medicine, Department of Nutrition, Sagami Women’s University, for their help in collecting data.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Nao Yoshimoto

    Present address: Social Welfare Corporation Naeba Fukushikai, Special Nursing Home for the Elderly Care-College, Saitama, Japan

  2. Kayo Masuko

    Present address: Health Evaluation and Promotion Center, Sanno Medical Center, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sagami Women’s University, Kanagawa, Japan

    Nao Yoshimoto & Kayo Masuko

  2. Tsuchiura Kyodo General Hospital, Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki, Japan

    Masaharu Inagaki, Yoshie Sekiguchi & Yoko Tomishima

  3. Clinical Medicine Research Center, International University of Health and Welfare, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Kayo Masuko

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  1. Nao Yoshimoto
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Correspondence to Kayo Masuko.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest associated with this manuscript.

Research involving human participants and/or animals

This study was approved by Tsuchiura Kyodo General Hospital, Sagami Women’s University, and the International University of Health and Welfare.

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Written informed consent was obtained from each patient at Tsuchiura Kyodo General Hospital.

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Yoshimoto, N., Inagaki, M., Sekiguchi, Y. et al. Chemotherapy alters subjective senses of taste and smell but not dietary patterns in Japanese lung cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 28, 1667–1674 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-04958-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-04958-z

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