Age-related Smell and Taste Impairments and Vitamin D Associations in the U.S. Adults National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Galya Bigman

doi:10.3390/nu12040984

Abstract

Smell and taste decline with aging, and markedly deteriorate when nutritional deficiencies occur. This study aims to examine the associations between Vitamin D (VD) deficiency and smell and taste impairments among adults. This paper details a cross-sectional study utilizing data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2013–2014.). Smell impairment was assessed by the Pocket Smell Test and defined as failing to correctly identify six or more of the eight odors. Taste impairment was defined as failing to correctly identify quinine or sodium chloride. VD was measured as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin. Multivariable weighted logistic regressions were utilized. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were presented. Overall, 2216 (smell sample) and 2636 (taste sample) participants were included, aged between 40 and 80 years old. Of those, 18.3% had taste impairment, 12.2% had smell impairment, and 20% had VD deficiency (<20 ng/mL). Compared to participants with sufficient VD (>30 ng/mL), those with VD deficiency were more likely by 39% to report a higher prevalence of smell impairment (OR = 1.39, 95%CI: 1.02–1.89); and only participants aged 70–80 years with VD inadequacy (20–30 ng/mL) were more likely by 96% to report a higher prevalence of taste impairment (OR = 1.96, 95%CI: 1.35–1.85). VD may have a significant role in age-related smell impairment in adults aged 40 years or older, and in age-related taste impairment in the elderly aged 70–80 years.

Highlights

Age-related smell loss alone or in combination with loss of taste can have negative influences on an individual’s food preferences, diet, and nutritional status and may impact the overall health condition [1]
To fill the void in knowledge, this study aims to examine the association between Vitamin D deficiency and smell and taste impairments and effect modification of age in the population of the US
This study showed that only participants aged 70–80 years with Vitamin D adequacy, serum

Summary

Introduction

Age-related smell loss alone or in combination with loss of taste can have negative influences on an individual’s food preferences, diet, and nutritional status and may impact the overall health condition [1]. Losses of smell and taste become a more common problem as people progress into adulthood and live longer and so pose a major risk to public health [2]. In the US, people over the age of 40 years have a 13.5% probability of smell dysfunction and a 17.3% probability of taste dysfunction. Taste and smell decline markedly with age, can affect up to 60% of individuals aged over 65 years and. Aging is one of the leading causes of smell loss due to cumulative damage to the olfactory receptor cells, ossification of the foramina of the cribriform plate, and changes in neural responsiveness [2]. Nutritional deficiencies contribute to these deteriorations including trace metal deficiencies such as copper [6], zinc [7], and magnesium [8] and some vitamin deficiencies including Vitamin A [9], E [10], and B12 [11]

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