Zinc Gluconate in the Treatment of Dysgeusia—a Randomized Clinical Trial

In the treatment of dysgeusia, the use of zinc has been frequently
tried, with equivocal results. The aim of the present randomized
clinical trial, which involved a sufficiently large sample, was
therefore to determine the efficacy of zinc treatment. Fifty
patients with idiopathic dysgeusia were carefully selected. Zinc
gluconate (140 mg/day; n = 26) or placebo (lactose; n = 24) was
randomly assigned to the patients. The patients on zinc improved in
terms of gustatory function (p < 0.001) and rated the dysgeusia
as being less severe (p < 0.05). Similarly, signs of depression
in the zinc group were less severe (Beck Depression Inventory, p
< 0.05; mood scale, p < 0.05). With the exception of the
salivary calcium level, which was higher in the zinc patients (p
< 0.05), no other significant group differences were found. In
conclusion, zinc appears to improve general gustatory function and,
consequently, general mood scores in dysgeusia patients.