New research presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Boston, MA, revealed that the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 agonist) semaglutide can improve taste sensitivity in women with obesity. The study found that participants who took semaglutide experienced a modification in gene expression in the tongue responsible for taste perception and a change in the brain’s response to sweet tastes. This study sheds light on the potential impact of semaglutide on taste perception in individuals with obesity.
Taste sensitivity varies among individuals, and factors such as smoking, aging, certain medications, and obesity can influence how people perceive flavors. Obese individuals have been shown to have fewer taste buds on the tongue, leading to a weakened sense of taste. The new research from the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia suggests that semaglutide may help improve taste sensitivity in women with obesity by modifying gene expression in the tongue and altering brain responses to sweet tastes.
The study included 30 women with obesity who received semaglutide or a placebo for 16 weeks. Taste sensitivity was measured using strips with concentrations of four basic tastes, and brain responses to sweet solutions were evaluated using MRI scans. Tongue biopsies were also conducted to assess mRNA expression within tongue tissue. Study participants who took semaglutide showed changes in taste perception, taste bud gene expression, and brain activity in response to sweet tastes, highlighting the potential impact of semaglutide on taste sensitivity.
Mojca Jensterle Sever, PhD, the lead author of the study, emphasized the importance of taste perception in controlling food intake and its potential role in the onset and maintenance of obesity and diabetes. Taste conveys important information about the quality, appetitive value, and hedonic value of foods, influencing ingestive decision-making. Pharmacological manipulation of gustatory coding to improve taste sensitivity could potentially modulate eating behavior and help individuals make healthier food choices.
Mir Ali, MD, a board-certified bariatric surgeon, found the study’s findings intriguing and raised questions about whether the changes in taste perception were due to the medication itself or the associated weight loss. He also pointed out that taste is closely linked to smell and that improved taste sensitivity could make healthier foods more appealing but could also make unhealthy foods more tempting. The study’s results provide valuable insights into the potential impact of semaglutide on taste sensitivity and its implications for managing obesity and promoting healthy eating habits.
