Researchers discovered that people who experience dysgeusia—a condition where food tastes strange or unpleasant—may have a higher risk of heart disease. In this study of a large group of Americans, people with taste problems were about 46-87% more likely to have atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (a type of heart disease caused by clogged arteries) compared to those without taste issues. Even after accounting for other health factors like smoking, weight, and diabetes, the connection remained strong. This finding suggests that taste problems could be an important warning sign that doctors should pay attention to when assessing heart disease risk.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether people who have dysgeusia (when food tastes bad, metallic, or wrong) are more likely to have heart disease caused by clogged arteries
  • Who participated: A nationally representative sample of Americans (exact number not specified in the abstract), including people of different ages, races, and backgrounds
  • Key finding: People with taste problems had 46-87% higher odds of having heart disease compared to people without taste problems, even after researchers controlled for other risk factors like smoking, weight, and diabetes
  • What it means for you: If you experience persistent strange tastes in your mouth, it may be worth discussing with your doctor as a potential sign to check your heart health. However, this doesn’t mean taste problems definitely cause heart disease—more research is needed to understand the connection

The Research Details

This was a cross-sectional study, which means researchers looked at a large group of people at one point in time and compared those with taste problems to those without. They used data from a nationally representative sample, meaning the group was chosen to reflect the overall American population. The researchers asked people about their taste problems and whether they had been diagnosed with heart disease caused by clogged arteries. To make sure they were comparing similar people, they used a special statistical technique called propensity score matching, which is like creating pairs of people who are alike in many ways except for whether they have taste problems.

This approach is important because it helps researchers see if taste problems are truly connected to heart disease, rather than just being connected because both conditions happen to occur in people with other shared risk factors. By matching people carefully and adjusting for many other health factors, the researchers could get a clearer picture of whether taste problems themselves might be a sign of heart disease risk.

This study has some strengths: it used a large, nationally representative sample and controlled for many other health factors that could affect the results. However, because it’s a cross-sectional study (a snapshot in time), it can’t prove that taste problems cause heart disease—only that they’re associated with it. The study also doesn’t specify the exact sample size in the abstract, which makes it harder to evaluate its statistical power. More research, especially studies that follow people over time, would help confirm these findings

What the Results Show

In the initial analysis without adjusting for other factors, people with taste problems had 88% higher odds of having heart disease (OR = 1.88). When researchers adjusted for many other health factors—including age, weight, smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and depression—the connection remained significant, with people with taste problems having 46% higher odds of heart disease (OR = 1.46). When researchers used the special matching technique to compare very similar people, those with taste problems had 87% higher odds of heart disease compared to their matched pairs (OR = 1.87). All three analyses showed the connection was statistically significant, meaning it’s unlikely to have happened by chance.

The fact that the association remained strong even after adjusting for many other health conditions (like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and depression) suggests that taste problems may be an independent indicator of heart disease risk. This means taste problems appear to be connected to heart disease beyond just being a side effect of these other conditions. The consistency of findings across different analytical approaches strengthens confidence in the relationship.

While taste problems have been known to affect quality of life and nutrition, their direct connection to heart disease has not been well studied. This research adds new information by showing a specific link between taste problems and atherosclerotic heart disease. The findings suggest that taste problems deserve more attention in heart disease research and potentially in clinical practice.

This study has several important limitations. First, because it’s a snapshot in time (cross-sectional), we can’t determine whether taste problems lead to heart disease or if heart disease causes taste problems. Second, the study relies on people reporting their own symptoms and diagnoses, which may not always be accurate. Third, the exact sample size isn’t provided, making it difficult to assess how reliable the results are. Finally, this study shows an association but doesn’t prove cause and effect—there may be other factors not measured in the study that explain the connection

The Bottom Line

If you experience persistent strange tastes, metallic tastes, or loss of taste, mention it to your doctor as part of a general health discussion. This is especially important if you have other heart disease risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking history, or diabetes. However, don’t assume taste problems mean you have heart disease—they could be caused by many other things like medications, infections, or nutritional deficiencies. More research is needed before doctors can confidently use taste problems as a screening tool for heart disease (moderate confidence level)

People with persistent taste problems should be aware of this potential connection and discuss it with their healthcare provider. Those with existing heart disease risk factors (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking history) should especially pay attention to taste changes. Healthcare providers should consider asking patients about taste problems as part of heart disease risk assessment. This research is less relevant for people without taste problems or those without other heart disease risk factors

This study doesn’t tell us how quickly taste problems might develop before heart disease or how long it takes for the connection to matter. More research is needed to understand the timeline. If you’re concerned about your heart health, don’t wait—discuss it with your doctor regardless of whether you have taste problems

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track taste changes weekly by rating how normal your food tastes on a scale of 1-10, and note any metallic, bitter, or unusual tastes. Also log any new or worsening symptoms like chest discomfort, shortness of breath, or fatigue
  • Use the app to set a reminder to discuss any taste changes with your doctor at your next appointment. If you have taste problems, use the app to track other heart disease risk factors (blood pressure readings, exercise, diet quality) to get a complete picture of your cardiovascular health
  • Create a monthly summary view showing taste quality trends alongside other heart health markers. If taste problems persist for more than 2 weeks or worsen, flag this for discussion with your healthcare provider. Track whether taste problems correlate with other symptoms or lifestyle changes

This research shows an association between taste problems and heart disease, but does not prove that one causes the other. Taste problems can be caused by many different conditions including medications, infections, nutritional deficiencies, and other health issues—not just heart disease. If you experience persistent taste changes, unusual tastes, or loss of taste, consult with your healthcare provider for proper evaluation and diagnosis. Do not use this information to self-diagnose heart disease. If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or other signs of a heart attack, seek emergency medical care immediately. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice