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The Effect of Barium on Perceptions of Taste Intensity and Palatability

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Abstract

Barium may affect the perception of taste intensity and palatability. Such differences are important considerations in the selection of dysphagia assessment strategies and interpretation of results. Eighty healthy women grouped by age (younger, older) and genetic taste status (supertaster, nontaster) rated intensity and palatability for seven tastants prepared in deionized water with and without 40 % w/v barium: noncarbonated and carbonated water, diluted ethanol, and high concentrations of citric acid (sour), sodium chloride (salty), caffeine (bitter), and sucrose (sweet). Mixed-model analyses explored the effects of barium, taster status, and age on perceived taste intensity and acceptability of stimuli. Barium was associated with lower taste intensity ratings for sweet, salty, and bitter tastants, higher taste intensity in carbonated water, and lower palatability in water, sweet, sour, and carbonated water. Older subjects reported lower palatability (all barium samples, sour) and higher taste intensity scores (ethanol, sweet, sour) compared to younger subjects. Supertasters reported higher taste intensity (ethanol, sweet, sour, salty, bitter) and lower palatability (ethanol, salty, bitter) than nontasters. Refusal rates were highest for younger subjects and supertasters, and for barium (regardless of tastant), bitter, and ethanol. Barium suppressed the perceived intensity of some tastes and reduced palatability. These effects are more pronounced in older subjects and supertasters, but younger supertasters are least likely to tolerate trials of barium and strong tastant solutions.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by awards from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation New Investigators Grant (Pelletier) and US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity No. W811XWH (Solomon).

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The authors certify that they have no conflicts of interest to declare; there are no significant financial interests with a research sponsor or other organization that may otherwise reasonably appear to affect or be affected by the research.

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  1. Cathy A. Pelletier

    Present address: Charlestown Retirement Community, 709 Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville, MD, 21228, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Audiology & Speech Center, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Building 19, Floor 5, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD, 20889-5600, USA

    Angela M. Dietsch & Nancy Pearl Solomon

  2. Henry F. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, 6420-A Rockledge Dr., Suite 100, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA

    Angela M. Dietsch

  3. Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, 550 University Avenue #12-101, Toronto, ON, M5G 2A2, Canada

    Catriona M. Steele

  4. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA

    Cathy A. Pelletier

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Dietsch, A.M., Solomon, N.P., Steele, C.M. et al. The Effect of Barium on Perceptions of Taste Intensity and Palatability. Dysphagia 29, 96–108 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-013-9487-4

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