PREVALENCE OF TASTE BLINDNESS TO PHENYLTHIOCARBAMIDE IN PUNJAB

Abstract

Background: This study was carried out to find out the prevalence of taste blindness to phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) in healthy, young adults of Punjab Province in Pakistan. Methods: Out of total number of about 1250 students , six hundred students (315 males, 285 females) from Nishtar Medical College, Multan participated in the study. Their age was ranging between 18 to 23 years. One centimeter square filter paper, impregnated with 0.5% solution of PTC was given to the subjects and they were asked to chew the paper and to state the taste perceived. They were asked to spit out the chemical and rinse the mouth with water. Among 600 subjects, 18.6% were found taste blind for PTC. Results: Among males 23% and among females 14% were found nontaster
to PTC. When analyzed on regional basis, all regions of Punjab were shown to have both tasters and non-tasters in about the same proportion. More non-tasters were found among males as compared with the females. Conclusion: So in Punjab, the ratio of non-tasters to PTC (18.6%) is more than the ratio in China (10%) and in Turkey (11.2%) but their ratio is less than those in the USA (30%).