Carbonic anhydrase VI (CA VI) contributes to taste function when secreted in the saliva by protecting taste receptor cells (TRCs) from apoptosis. Functional CA VI exists as a single polypeptide chain tightly bound to one molecule of zinc, and containing two N-linked glycosylation sites. Decreased CA VI secretion correlates with loss of taste (hypogeusia) and smell (hyposmia) or distorted taste (dysgeusia) and smell (dysosmia), and altered taste bud morphology. Addition of zinc to individuals experiencing these symptoms restored secretion of CA VI to normal levels and normal taste bud morphology in some, but not all, cases, indicating two different mechanisms leading to CA VI dysfunction.