Attempts to prevent dysgeusia through the prophylactic use of zinc sulfate or amifostine have been of limited benefit .
Nutritional counseling may be helpful to some patients in minimizing the symptoms of dysgeusia .
Conclusions Dysgeusia is a common oral side effect of cancer therapy ( radiotherapy , chemotherapy , or combined modality therapy ) and often impacts negatively on quality of life .
From the current literature , there does not appear to be a predictable way of preventing or treating dysgeusia
Purpose The purpose was to review relevant scientific papers written since 1989 which focused on the prevalence and management of  dysgeusia as an oral side effect of cancer treatment .
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 r and omized 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 r and omly 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
Attempts to prevent dysgeusia through the prophylactic use of zinc sulfate or amifostine have been of limited benefit .
Nutritional counseling may be helpful to some patients in minimizing the symptoms of dysgeusia .
Conclusions Dysgeusia is a common oral side effect of cancer therapy ( radiotherapy , chemotherapy , or combined modality therapy ) and often impacts negatively on quality of life .
From the current literature , there does not appear to be a predictable way of preventing or treating dysgeusia
Purpose The purpose was to review relevant scientific papers written since 1989 which focused on the prevalence and management of  dysgeusia as an oral side effect of cancer treatment .