HealthScience DailyScientists discover why some people still can’t taste food after COVID-19
Scientists have found a molecular defect in taste bud cells that may explain why some long COVID patients still cannot properly taste sweet, bitter or savoury foods.
Scientists have uncovered a possible explanation for why some people struggle to taste food more than a year after recovering from COVID-19. By examining taste buds from patients with lingering symptoms, researchers discovered molecular abnormalities that weaken the signals responsible for detecting sweet, bitter, and savory flavors.
Researchers from the University of Colorado and two Swedish universities identified a biological defect in taste bud cells that may explain persistent taste loss after COVID-19.
The study found reduced levels of a protein called PLCβ2, which acts as a molecular amplifier for sweet, bitter and umami taste signals sent to the brain.
The finding, published in Chemical Senses, is the first direct biological evidence linking long COVID taste problems to measurable changes inside taste cells, the researchers say.
The study found salty and sour taste is usually unaffected, so if you have lingering taste loss after COVID, mention this research to your GP as it may help guide your care.
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