Abstract
BACKGROUND: Alteration of taste leads to changes in dietary habits with systemic consequences. Tobacco and alcohol users are known to have altered taste sensations (TS). Here, we ascertain the pattern of altered TS in tobacco and alcohol users in our institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four groups: Group A (no habits, n = 25), Group B (smokers and alcohol users, n = 25), Group C (smokers, alcohol, and tobacco chewers, n = 25), and Group D (alcohol users with tobacco chewing, n = 25). Taste strips for sweet, salt, sour, and bitter at four concentrations were used to ascertain the taste threshold as and high (1) to low (4). Data collected were analysed by Chi-square test in SPSS v. 16.0. RESULTS: Between Groups A, B, C, and D, the threshold levels for sweet and salt were not altered while the threshold level for sour (P = 0.02) and bitter (P = 0.005) was significantly increased. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that tobacco and alcohol adversely affect the sour and bitter threshold.