[Effect of tobacco smoking on taste sensitivity in adults]

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the tobacco smoking on taste sensitivity in healthy adults. The study involved healthy subjects, aged 30 to 60 years. The experimental group consisted of 28 smoking subjects; the control group consisted of 33 non smokers. The ability to recognize four basic types of taste and thresholds for detection of sweet and salty taste were determined in this study. The measurement of taste thresholds were carried out by electrogustometry. The obtained results have been found higher thresholds for detection of salty taste in smokers compared with control subjects (p<0.05). We estimated that such tastes as: sweet, salty, sour have been recognized by smokers weaker and their sensitivity of tongue receptors to electric stimulus was slightly lowered than nonsmokers.