Yoshida S, Tanaka H
Nihon Hotetsu Shika Gakkai Zasshi. 1989 Feb;33(1):133-42. doi: 10.2186/jjps.33.133.
The zinc appears to play a significant roles in enzymatic activities as well as taste qualities, and it has been given considerable attention to the decreased serum zinc concentration patients who has been suffering from changes in taste acuity. There is, however, no report regarding the influence of the zinc concentration related to the denture wearers taste qualities. This study was undertaken to elucidate the correlation between serum zinc concentration and taste acuity in denture wearers. Total of 66 subjects were selected on 35 male and 31 female, aged 22 to 81 years. Within 66 subjects, 16 male and 18 female were denture wearers on aged 35 to 81 years. Serum zinc levels were made using atomic-absorption flame spectrophotometry, and taste thresholds were tested using electrogustometer on the anterior and posterior part of the tongue and on the soft palate. The results were as follows: 1. Significant decrease in serum zinc concentration with advancing age were obtained in both male and female subjects (Male: Y = 123.1-0.4 X, R = -0.67, p less than 0.01, Female: Y = 103.5-0.2 X, R = -0.37, p less than 0.05, where Y is serum zinc concentration in micrograms/dl and X is age in years). 2. Significant increase in taste-thresholds in every area with advancing age were obtained in both male and female subjects. 3. Denture wearers showed low value of serum zinc concentration (Male: 90.7 micrograms/dl, Female: 91.7 micrograms/dl) compared to young subjects (Male: 110.8 micrograms/dl, Female: 102.6 micrograms/dl). 4. Denture wearers showed high value of taste thresholds (Anterior part of the tongue: 18.8 dB, Posterior part of the tongue: 15.8 dB, Soft palate: 18.9 dB) compared to young subjects (Anterior part of the tongue: 6.6 dB, Posterior part of the tongue: 7.6 dB, Soft palate: 8.8 dB).
锌似乎在酶活性以及味觉特性方面发挥着重要作用，并且血清锌浓度降低的患者出现味觉敏锐度变化的情况已受到相当多的关注。然而，关于锌浓度对佩戴假牙者味觉特性的影响尚无相关报道。本研究旨在阐明佩戴假牙者血清锌浓度与味觉敏锐度之间的相关性。总共选取了66名受试者，其中男性35名，女性31名，年龄在22至81岁之间。在这66名受试者中，16名男性和18名女性为佩戴假牙者，年龄在35至81岁之间。采用原子吸收火焰分光光度法测定血清锌水平，使用电味觉计测试舌前部、舌后部和软腭的味觉阈值。结果如下：1. 男性和女性受试者的血清锌浓度均随年龄增长而显著降低（男性：Y = 123.1 - 0.4X，R = -0.67，p < 0.01；女性：Y = 103.5 - 0.2X，R = -0.37，p < 0.05，其中Y为血清锌浓度，单位为微克/分升，X为年龄，单位为岁）。2. 男性和女性受试者各区域的味觉阈值均随年龄增长而显著升高。3. 与年轻受试者（男性：110.8微克/分升，女性：102.6微克/分升）相比，佩戴假牙者的血清锌浓度较低（男性：90.7微克/分升，女性：91.7微克/分升）。4. 与年轻受试者（舌前部：6.6分贝，舌后部：7.6分贝，软腭：8.8分贝）相比，佩戴假牙者的味觉阈值较高（舌前部：18.8分贝，舌后部：15.8分贝，软腭：18.9分贝）。
