Comparison of Taste Threshold in Smokers and Non-Smokers Using Electrogustometry and Fungiform Papillae Count: A Case Control Study

Overview

Journal J Clin Diagn Res

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2016 Jul 21

PMID 27437340

Citations 11

Authors

Asim Mustafa Khan

Veena Sathya Narayanan

Jaishankar Homberhalli Puttabuddi

Rachita Chengappa

Vijaya Kumara Ambaldhage

Purnachandrarao Naik

Syed Ahmed Raheel

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Smoking in long term is not only responsible for cancerous changes but is also one of the reasons of altered taste sensation in smokers. These taste changes are hypothesized to be due to reduction in density of fungiform papillae on the dorsum of the tongue.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between fungiform papillae count, blood Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) and electrogustometric thresholds in smokers and non-smokers.

Materials And Methods: Fungiform papillae count was assessed using digital photography and imaging software while electrogustometric thresholds were assessed using modified Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (TENS) machine in 30 smokers and 30 non-smokers. The subjects also underwent RDW evaluation. The data collected was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient.

Results: Fungiform papillae counts in smokers were less than those of non-smokers and an inverse relationship was detected between smoking and fungiform papillae count. Electrogustometric thresholds were more in smokers than non-smokers and showed direct relationship with smoking. RDW was significantly more in smokers compared to non-smokers. An inverse relationship was observed between fungiform papillae count and RDW.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that smokers have a high taste threshold because of decrease in the number of fungiform papillae on the tongue and RDW values do show an inverse relationship with fungiform papillae density which depicts subclinical nutritional deficiency bringing atrophic changes in tongue.

Citing Articles

Effect of varying tobacco habits on salivary flow rate, pH and taste perception.

Gupta P, Dave A, Saluja P, Arora M J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2025; 28(4):560-564.

PMID: 39949669 PMC: 11819621. DOI: 10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_523_23.

Comparison of smoking conventional cigarettes and using heated tobacco products on the olfactory and gustatory function in healthy young adults: A cross-sectional study.

Sever E, Pavicic D, Pupovac A, Saltovic E, Spalj S, Glazar I Tob Induc Dis. 2024; 22.

PMID: 39263492 PMC: 11389167. DOI: 10.18332/tid/192524.

Associations between chronic cigarette smoking and taste function: Results from the 2013-2014 national health and nutrition examination survey.

Berube L, Duffy V, Hayes J, Hoffman H, Rawal S Physiol Behav. 2021; 240:113554.

PMID: 34375623 PMC: 8455455. DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113554.

Interactions between Chemesthesis and Taste: Role of TRPA1 and TRPV1.

Rhyu M, Kim Y, Lyall V Int J Mol Sci. 2021; 22(7).

PMID: 33806052 PMC: 8038011. DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073360.

Correlation of PTC Taste Status with Fungiform Papillae Count and Body Mass Index in Smokers and Non-Smokers of Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.

Mustafa Khan A, Al-Jandan B, Bugshan A, Al-Juaid K, Ali S, Jameela R Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(16).

PMID: 32785183 PMC: 7459494. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17165792.

References

Delilbasi C, Cehiz T, Akal U, Yilmaz T . Evaluation of gustatory function in postmenopausal women. Br Dent J. 2003; 194(8):447-9; discussion 441. DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4810030. View

Minetti M, Agati L, Malorni W . The microenvironment can shift erythrocytes from a friendly to a harmful behavior: pathogenetic implications for vascular diseases. Cardiovasc Res. 2007; 75(1):21-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.cardiores.2007.03.007. View

Cheng L, Robinson P . The distribution of fungiform papillae and taste buds on the human tongue. Arch Oral Biol. 1991; 36(8):583-9. DOI: 10.1016/0003-9969(91)90108-7. View

Pavlos P, Vasilios N, Antonia A, Dimitrios K, Georgios K, Georgios A . Evaluation of young smokers and non-smokers with Electrogustometry and Contact Endoscopy. BMC Ear Nose Throat Disord. 2009; 9:9. PMC: 2736917. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6815-9-9. View

Rimm E, Chan J, Stampfer M, Colditz G, Willett W . Prospective study of cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and the risk of diabetes in men. BMJ. 1995; 310(6979):555-9. PMC: 2548937. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.310.6979.555. View

Carnevali S, Petruzzelli S, Longoni B, Vanacore R, Barale R, Cipollini M . Cigarette smoke extract induces oxidative stress and apoptosis in human lung fibroblasts. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2003; 284(6):L955-63. DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00466.2001. View

Kurtoglu E, Akturk E, Korkmaz H, Sincer I, Yilmaz M, Erdem K . Elevated red blood cell distribution width in healthy smokers. Turk Kardiyol Dern Ars. 2013; 41(3):199-206. DOI: 10.5543/tkda.2013.42375. View

Bartoshuk L . Comparing sensory experiences across individuals: recent psychophysical advances illuminate genetic variation in taste perception. Chem Senses. 2000; 25(4):447-60. DOI: 10.1093/chemse/25.4.447. View

Nasri-Heir C, Gomes J, Heir G, Ananthan S, Benoliel R, Teich S . The role of sensory input of the chorda tympani nerve and the number of fungiform papillae in burning mouth syndrome. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2011; 112(1):65-72. DOI: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2011.02.035. View

10.

Celermajer D, Sorensen K, Georgakopoulos D, Bull C, Thomas O, Robinson J . Cigarette smoking is associated with dose-related and potentially reversible impairment of endothelium-dependent dilation in healthy young adults. Circulation. 1993; 88(5 Pt 1):2149-55. DOI: 10.1161/01.cir.88.5.2149. View

11.

Grant R, Ferguson M, Strang R, Turner J, Bone I . Evoked taste thresholds in a normal population and the application of electrogustometry to trigeminal nerve disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1987; 50(1):12-21. PMC: 1033244. DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.50.1.12. View

12.

Saito T, Narita N, Yamada T, Manabe Y, Ito T . Morphology of human fungiform papillae after severing chorda tympani nerve. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2011; 120(5):300-6. DOI: 10.1177/000348941112000504. View

13.

Lu S, Wu H . Initial diagnosis of anemia from sore mouth and improved classification of anemias by MCV and RDW in 30 patients. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2004; 98(6):679-85. DOI: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2004.01.006. View

14.

Douglass R, Heckman G . Drug-related taste disturbance: a contributing factor in geriatric syndromes. Can Fam Physician. 2010; 56(11):1142-7. PMC: 2980431. View