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. 2001 Jan;26(1):91-3.
doi: 10.1093/chemse/26.1.91.

Clinical bitterness masking test for phantogeusia

T Ishimaru  1 , S Hatanaka, T Miwa, M Furukawa
Affiliations

Clinical bitterness masking test for phantogeusia

T Ishimaru et al. Chem Senses. 2001 Jan.

Abstract

It is difficult to determine the reason why a patient complains of a bitter taste when their mouth is empty. We examined a new diagnostic test using a bitterness masking substance. The bitterness masking substance, 'Benecoat BMI-60' (hereafter BMI-60), is a masking substance specific to the taste cells' bitterness receptors. After patients gargled with BMI-60 solutions, the phantom sensation of bitterness was masked in some patients, but was not masked in others. Bitter substances in saliva seemed to be masked by BMI-60, but bitterness did not seem to be masked when the locus of the phantom sensation was within the peripheral nerve and/or the brain. The bitterness masking test is useful for diagnosis of the phantom sensation of bitter taste.

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