[wp-hackers] Number of rows without returning data - MySQL

[Robert Lusby]

Bit of topic sorry, but maybe you can help:

Does anyone know how to count the number of rows that would be returned in a
query, without giving the MySQL user SELECT privs?

Need to determine if a set email address is already in a database - if not,
add the address.

I have the security improved in that, currently, the MySQL user for this
application can only INSERT .. so worse-case sceniro, is a hacker can add
extra user data, but not view or remove any.

Now I need to count number of rows returned, but without any data actually
being returned.

Is there a command, or permission level I can use to do this? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.