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European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology

Published in:

01-07-2010 | Rhinology

Olfactory and gustatory function in irritable bowel syndrome

Authors: Silke Steinbach, Wolfgang Reindl, Claudia Kessel, Roland Ott, Thomas Zahnert, Walter Hundt, Petra Heinrich, Dieter Saur, Wolfgang Huber

Published in: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology | Issue 7/2010

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common, functional disorder diagnosed by gastroenterologists. It is still unclear whether IBS has a central etiology, e.g., hyperreactivity of the brain, or a peripheral etiology, e.g., stimulation of olfactory/gustatory receptors on enterochromaffin cells, followed by serotonin release and changed gut motility. Testing the odor identification (ID), odor discrimination (DIS) and odor threshold (THR) as well as the total taste and the taste qualities “sweet”, “sour”, “salty” and “bitter” should be of help for determining the etiology. To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the olfactory/gustatory function in IBS patients. The olfactory/gustatory function of 43 patients (32 women, 11 men) suffering from IBS as defined by the ROME III criteria was investigated by means of validated tests (Sniffin’ Sticks and taste strips). Compared to normative data, scores of THR were decreased and scores of ID and DIS were increased in IBS patients. Additionally, when compared to normative data, there was no difference in the taste function of IBS patients. Assuming that THR reflects more the peripheral olfactory function, whereas ID and DIS are influenced by central activity, and that taste did not differ in IBS patients compared to normative data, this supports the idea of a central etiology of IBS.

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Title: Olfactory and gustatory function in irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Silke Steinbach
Wolfgang Reindl
Claudia Kessel
Roland Ott
Thomas Zahnert
Walter Hundt
Petra Heinrich
Dieter Saur
Wolfgang Huber
Publication date: 01-07-2010
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology / Issue 7/2010
Print ISSN: 0937-4477
Electronic ISSN: 1434-4726
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-009-1181-7

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Olfactory and gustatory function in irritable bowel syndrome

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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