The Influence of Sour Taste on Dysphagia in Brain Injury: Blind Study

Abstract

ObjectiveTo verify the influence of sour taste on swallowing and the presence of reflex cough when sour material was swallowed in patients with dysphagia secondary to brain injury.MethodFifty dysphagic brain injury patients who underwent videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) were recruited. The patients who had shown severe aspiration at 2 ml of liquid were excluded. The dysphagic patients were given 5 ml each of a sour tasting liquid (SOUR) and a thin liquid barium (LIQUID) in random order. An expert analyzed the result of VFSS by reviewing recorded videotapes. Analysis components consisted of the Penetration-Aspiration-Scale (PAS) score, oral transit time (OTT), pharyngeal transit time (PTT), pharyngeal delay time (PDT) and the reflex cough presence.ResultsThe PAS score for SOUR was significantly lower than the one for LIQUID (p=0.03). The mean OTT for SOUR was significantly shortened compared to that for LIQUID (p=0.03). The mean PTT and PDT were also shortened in SOUR, although the differences were not statistically significant (p=0.26 and p=0.32, respectively). There was no significant difference between SOUR and LIQUID regarding the presence of reflex cough (p=1.00).ConclusionThe sour taste could enhance sensorimotor feedback in the oropharynx, thus lowering the chances of penetration-aspiration caused by shortening of the oropharyngeal passage times. There was no significant difference in the presence of reflex cough produced between LIQUID and SOUR.

Orosensory contributions to dysphagia: a link between perception of sweet and sour taste and pharyngeal delay time

“…2012; Lee et al. 2012; Pauloski et al. 2013) demonstrated changes in swallow physiology when given a sour stimulus.…”

“…2005; Pelletier and Steele 2014), shorter oral transit times (OTTs) (Lee et al. 2012), faster onset of the oral stage and the triggering of the pharyngeal swallow (Logemann et al. 1995; Lee et al.…”

“…1995; Lee et al. 2012), shorter pharyngeal transit times (PTTs) for sour boluses combined with cold (Cola et al. 2012), fewer incidents of laryngeal vestibule penetration and lower (better) Penetration‐Aspiration scores (Pelletier and Lawless 2003; Lee et al.…”

“…2012), fewer incidents of laryngeal vestibule penetration and lower (better) Penetration‐Aspiration scores (Pelletier and Lawless 2003; Lee et al. 2012), and fewer incidents of aspiration (Pelletier and Lawless 2003). In a study of the effects of enhanced bolus tastes on oropharyngeal swallow in patients treated for head and neck cancer (Pauloski et al.…”

Wine Flavor Perception in a Person with Isolated Congenital Aglossia, Naïve Wine Taster, and Sommelier

“…Sasano, Satoh-Kuriwada, and Shoji in 2015 saw positive results using a drink high in monosodium glutamate, which produces the umami taste, to overcome hypogeusia [13]. In addition, sour taste has been found to stimulate swallowing in patients with dysphagia [14,15]. By better understanding the function of taste in those with ICA, the field of taste rehabilitation may be expanded at the benefit of those who have lost their tongue or sense of taste.…”