Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of zinc picolinate for taste disorders.

A total of 73 patients with an idiopathic zinc-deficiency taste disorder completed a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the efficacy of zinc picolinate. Patients in the zinc treatment group ( n = 37) received 29 mg of zinc picolinate orally by capsule 3 times a day for 3 months. No significant difference was noted between the treatment and placebo groups in terms of improvement in subjective symptoms or whole-mouth taste sensation. However, assessment of taste using the filter paper disk method showed significantly better improvement for the group given zinc, and the serum zinc level was also significantly higher in this group than in the placebo control group.