CHEMOSENSORY FUNCTION AND DIET IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS

Alterations of chemosensory function have been noted in human immunode ficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, but their frequency, severity, and relationship to diet have not been adequately assessed. Odor and taste identification tests and a taste-intensity scaling task were adm inistered to 25 men who were HIV-infected but otherwise healthy. Respo nses were compared to those of 49 comparably aged male control subject s. Dietary information was obtained by questionnaire. Although 72% of HIV-infected patients reported some chemosensory alteration, no signif icant differences in taste identification ability or intensity ratings were observed between patients and controls. Twelve percent of patien ts had poor odor identification scores, but the group mean was similar to that of controls. Neither measured nor self-reported sensory indic es were significantly related to any variable of health (e.g., HIV hel per cell (CD4) count, body weight, or body composition), treatment, or diet.