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Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 3/2020

01-03-2020 | Breast Cancer | Original Article

Changes in taste and food preferences in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: a pilot study

Authors: Yeon-hee Kim, Gun Min Kim, Sungtaek Son, Mina Song, Sangun Park, Hyun Cheol Chung, Seung-Min Lee

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 3/2020

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Abstract

Purpose

Cancer treatment may relate to appetite reduction and malnutrition. We investigated taste alterations and dish-type preferences during chemo- and/or radiation therapy in breast cancer patients.

Methods

Breast cancer patients (BC, n = 59) scheduled to receive cancer therapy and healthy subjects (control group or CTRL, n = 49) were voluntarily recruited. Taste detection thresholds (DTs) and recognition thresholds (RT) were compared between pre-treatment BC patients and CTRL for sweet (sucrose), salty (NaCl), bitter (caffeine), and sour (citric acid) solutions. Changes in taste thresholds and dish preferences during treatment were monitored in the BC group. Blood chemistry and anthropometric data were collected.

Results

At baseline, BC patients demonstrated lower sweet and salty DTs and RTs and a higher sour RT compared to CTRL. Bitter DT and RT were similar in both groups. Mild/soft dishes were preferred over fried/oily dishes by BC patients. Throughout treatment in BC patients, sweet thresholds significantly declined, while salty, bitter, and sour DTs and RTs were not affected, and there was no increase in preference for a dish. However, preference towards mild/soft dishes remained. While sweet-sour fruits and sweetened nuts were not favored during therapy.

Conclusions

Sensitivities to sweet, salty, and sour but not bitter tastes differed between BC patients and CTRL. During treatment, sweet taste sensitivity increased while other tastes were unaffected. BC patients preferred mild/soft dishes over fried and sweetened dishes compared to CTRL. Our findings may contribute to developing dishes for breast cancer patients to increase food intake and thereby lower the risk of malnutrition.
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Metadata
Title
Changes in taste and food preferences in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: a pilot study
Authors
Yeon-hee Kim
Gun Min Kim
Sungtaek Son
Mina Song
Sangun Park
Hyun Cheol Chung
Seung-Min Lee
Publication date
01-03-2020
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 3/2020
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-04924-9

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