Abstract
A case-controlled study was performed to evaluate taste and smell impairment, nausea or vomiting (NV) response to taste and smell and toleration to food texture, item and cooking method in hyperemesis gravidarum patients (HG) compared to gestation-matched controls from a university hospital and primary care clinic in Malaysia. Taste strips (4 base tastes), sniff sticks (16 selected smells) and a food-related questionnaire were used. 124 participants were recruited. Taste impairment was found in 13%(8/62) vs. 0%(0/62) P = 0.003 and the median for correct smell identification was 5[4–6] vs. 9[7–9] P < 0.001 in HG vs. controls. In HG, bitter was most likely (32%) and sweet taste least likely (5%) to provoke NV. In both arms, fish smell was most likely to provoke NV, 77% vs. 32% P < 0.001 and peppermint smell least likely 10% vs. 0% P = 0.012; NV response was significantly more likely for HG arm in 10/16 smells. In HG, worst and best NV responses to food-texture were pasty 69% and crunchy 26%; food-item, plain rice 71% and apple 16% and cooking-style, deep-frying 71% and steaming 55%. HG demonstrated taste and smell impairment and increased NV responses to many tastes and smells. Crunchy sweet uncooked food (apple or watermelon) maybe best tolerated in HG.
Highlights
A case-controlled study was performed to evaluate taste and smell impairment, nausea or vomiting (NV) response to taste and smell and toleration to food texture, item and cooking method in hyperemesis gravidarum patients (HG) compared to gestation-matched controls from a university hospital and primary care clinic in Malaysia
A 3-arm study reported that women affected by HG perfomed worst in taste identification when compared to healthy pregnant women or to healthy non-pregnant women, who performed similarly[5]
In our experiment using taste pad and smell stick testing, we find impairment (14% vs. 0%) of taste and significantly lower cumulative correct smell identification score 5 [IQR 4–6] vs. 9 [IQR 7-9] in the HG patients compared to early pregnancy controls
Summary
A case-controlled study was performed to evaluate taste and smell impairment, nausea or vomiting (NV) response to taste and smell and toleration to food texture, item and cooking method in hyperemesis gravidarum patients (HG) compared to gestation-matched controls from a university hospital and primary care clinic in Malaysia. More than two thirds of pregnant women experienced nausea and vomiting (NVP) during early pregnancy with the more severe presentation, hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) affecting about 1.2% of pregnancies[1]. A 3-arm study reported that women affected by HG perfomed worst in taste identification when compared to healthy pregnant women or to healthy non-pregnant women, who performed [5]. A 3-arm study reported that HG women performed the worst in smell identification, followed by healthy pregnant women healthy non-pregnant women who performed the best[5]. It is suggested that a combination of team support, individualized care, supplements created by the dietitian www.nature.com/scientificreports on the basis of patient preferences, and an adapted documented approach for patients with eating aberrations are important aspects of effective management of HG15
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