Document Detail


Bitter taste perception and severe vomiting in pregnancy.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  10869591     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Hyperemesis gravidarum or severe vomiting during pregnancy is a condition of elusive etiology that can harm both mother and fetus. This study examined the association between increased bitter-taste perception and history of hyperemesis gravidarum. Bitter-taste perception varies genetically and can be altered with conditions that damage taste-related cranial nerves. Sixty women were divided into high- (n = 21) and low-vomit (n = 39) groups based on vomiting exposure across all pregnancies and were screened for genetic variation in taste with bitterness of saturated 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) delivered on filter paper. Supertasters perceive PROP as intensely bitter; nontasters, as only weakly. Each reported their history of dysgeusia (persistent taste) and taste-related pathology (otitis media and head trauma). The vomit groups did not differ in the frequency of supertasters, but the high-vomit group had fewest nontasters. The high-vomit group also reported dysgeusia most frequently. A subsample (13 high-vomit and 18 low-vomit women) rated the taste intensity of sodium chloride (1 mol), sucrose (1 mol), citric acid (0.0032 mol), and quinine hydrochloride (0.001 mol) applied to areas innervated by cranial nerves VII and IX. The groups only varied significantly in bitterness of quinine hydrochloride. High-vomit women tasted least bitterness on the anterior tongue (chorda tympani branch of VII) and highest bitterness on the posterior tongue (cranial nerve IX) and palate (superficial petrosal branch of VII). In high-vomit women, elevated bitterness on the posterior tongue and palate does not appear related to hydrochloric acid exposure in vomitus; it may explain the occurrence of dysgeusia. This pattern of spatial taste perception may indicate altered oral sensations that if present during pregnancy, could increase the risk of hyperemesis.
Authors:
M L Sipiora; M A Murtaugh; M B Gregoire; V B Duffy
Publication Detail:
Type:  Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Physiology & behavior     Volume:  69     ISSN:  0031-9384     ISO Abbreviation:  Physiol. Behav.     Publication Date:  2000 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2000-08-24     Completed Date:  2000-08-24     Revised Date:  2007-11-14    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0151504     Medline TA:  Physiol Behav     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  259-67     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Dept. of Employee Wellness, 60612, Chicago, IL, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Cranial Nerves / physiology
Facial Nerve / physiology
Female
Glossopharyngeal Nerve / physiology
Humans
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications / psychology*
Taste / genetics,  physiology*
Tongue / innervation,  physiology
Vomiting / complications*
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
DC00283/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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