A comparison of taste acuity and trace element content of saliva in a tri-ethnic elderly population

Taste acuity, dietary zinc intakes, and salivary zinc, copper, total protein, and total solids were assessed in 30 elderly and 36 control subjects from a tri-ethnic population. Eighty percent of the elderly population and 58% of the control population consumed less than two-thirds of the RDA for zinc. Dietary zinc intakes were significantly different with age (p<.01) and sex (p<.01) but were not significantly different with ethnic group. Taste thresholds for salty and sweet taste modalities significantly increased with age. Taste acuity was not significantly correlated with dietary zinc intake or salivary zinc, copper, or total protein levels. Salivary Total Copper values were significantly different with ethnic group (p<.01) and age (p<.05) but no definite trends were established with salivary Total Zinc, Total Protein, or Total Solids levels.