The effect of zinc supplementation on saliva and taste acuity in adult females

Objectives of this research were to assess normal taste acuity, salivary zinc concentration, and dietary zinc intake of healthy, middle-aged and older females (41 to 78 years of age); to evaluate the sensitivity of salivary zinc concentration to a period of zinc supplementation; and to evaluate the effect of zinc supplementation on taste acuity. During an 8 week supplementation period, groups of randomly assigned subjects received either 0, 15, or 50 mg elemental zinc, in the form of zinc acetate, daily.