Acetylcholine has the function of stimulating the salivary glands to actively produce saliva. The increase in saliva flow is effective in improving the movement of tastants to the taste buds. Zinc deficiency
Zinc supplementation
Approximately one half of drug-related taste distortions are caused by a zinc deficiency. Many medications are known to chelate, or bind, zinc, preventing the element from functioning properly. Due to the causal relationship of insufficient zinc levels to taste disorders, research has been conducted to test the efficacy of zinc supplementation as a possible treatment for dysgeusia. In a randomized clinical trial, fifty patients with idiopathic dysgeusia were given either zinc or a lactose placebo. The patients prescribed the zinc reported experiencing improved taste function and less severe symptoms compared to the control group, suggesting that zinc may be a beneficial treatment. The efficacy of zinc, however, has been ambiguous in the past. In a second study, 94% of patients who were provided with zinc supplementation did not experience any improvement in their condition. This ambiguity is most likely due to small sample sizes and the wide range of causes of dysgeusia. A recommended daily oral dose of 25–100 mg, as zinc gluconate, appears to be an effective treatment for taste dysfunction provided that there are low levels of zinc in the blood serum.
Inheritance within families
In most of the families reported so far, tetra-amelia syndrome appears to have an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. This means the defective gene responsible for the disorder is located on an autosome , and two copies of the defective gene (one inherited from each parent) are required in order to be born with the disorder. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive disorder both carry one copy of the defective gene, but usually do not experience any signs or symptoms of the disorder. Epidemiology
Tetra-amelia syndrome has been reported in only a few families worldwide. According to a 2011 study by Bermejo-Sanchez, amelia – that is, the lacking of one or more limbs – occurs in roughly 1 out of every 71,000 pregnancies. People with tetra-amelia syndrome
Joanne ORiordan of Millstreet, Cork, Ireland. At the age of 16 she addressed the United Nations in New York. She appeared before the International Telecommunication Union’s conference ‘Girls in Technology’, receiving a standing ovation after delivering the keynote speech. Hirotada Ototake
Nick Vujicic, founder of Life Without Limbs. Prince Randian
Violetta (entertainer)
Kent Bell (1965-2015) of Jacksonville, FL, scoreboard operator and disabled rights advocate, appeared on Oprah Winfrey show and in numerous print articles over the course of his life. Rob Mendez, varsity football team offensive coordinator at Francis Parker School (San Diego). Christian Arndt of Germany, media presenter. References
External links

"Tetra-amelia syndrome - Genetics Home Reference". U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2009-01-09.