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non-USA, by Country
· Greece
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Smokers' tongues have reduced blood supply, study finds
Jump to full article: HealthDay [HealthScout], 2009-08-27
Intro: In the study, researchers used electrical stimulation to test the taste threshold of 62 Greek participants. Applying an electrical current to the tongue generates a unique metallic taste. Measuring the amount of current required before a person perceives this taste enables researchers to determine taste sensitivity. The 28 smokers in the study scored worse on this test than the 34 nonsmokers.
The researchers then used endoscopy to measure the number and shape of a type of taste bud called fungiform papillae. They found that the smokers had flatter fungiform papillae, with a reduced blood supply.
The study was published online Aug. 20 in the journal BMC Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders.
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