Zinc Taste Testing: Holistic Performance Institute Position Stand

Cliff J. d C. Harvey, Ashley Greaves

Journal of Holistic Performance
ISSN: 2463-7238 | DOI: 10.26712/030621
Published: 3 June 2021

Key findings in plain English:

• Zinc taste testing is unreliable for ascertaining zinc status in clinical nutrition practice.
• Serum zinc testing offers are more highly credible and validated measure at this time.

Position Stand | Peer-Reviewed
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• Abstract
• Full-Text
• Article Information

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Abstract

Zinc taste tests are commonly used by complementary and alternative practitioners, pharmacies and in medical practices and research to determine zinc status and deficiency. However, despite this common use, evidence for the reliability and accuracy of this test for determining zinc status is lacking. 
​It is the position of the Holistic Performance Institute that unless further research can demonstrate accuracy and reliability of zinc taste testing, the use of this test in clinical practice should be avoided due to the potential to misdiagnose zinc deficiency and the risk of zinc overload. 

Authors

Cliff J. d. C. Harvey
ORCID | Google Scholar

Ashley Greaves

All authors: Holistic Performance Institute.
​7a Ascension Place, Rosedale, Auckland NZ.

Correspondence to: Dr Cliff Harvey  cliff@hpn.ac.nz 
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Citation

Harvey CJdC, Greaves A. Zinc Taste Testing: Holistic Performance Institute Position Stand. Journal of Holistic Performance. June 2021. DOI:
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Peer-review

Reviewed and accepted 2021. 
Open, post-publication peer-review available. 

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