New research has revealed that semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, may improve taste sensitivity in women with obesity by modifying gene expression in the tongue responsible for taste perception. This study, presented at ENDO 2024, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, found that participants who took semaglutide experienced changes in brain response to sweet tastes as well. Taste perception can vary from person to person, and factors such as smoking, aging, medication, and obesity can affect it. Obesity has previously been linked to fewer taste buds on the tongue, leading to a weakened sense of taste. Researchers at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia recruited women with obesity for a 16-week study, measuring taste sensitivity using taste strips and evaluating brain responses to sweet tastes via MRI scans. Tongue biopsies revealed alterations in taste bud gene expression in participants who took semaglutide.
Mojca Jensterle Sever, PhD, the first author of the study, highlighted the impact of metabolic health on taste perception, stating that obese individuals may perceive sweet tastes as less intense. The study aimed to control for various factors that could influence taste perception, such as sex, aging, diabetes, and smoking. Participants were anovulatory women with polycystic ovary syndrome to minimize variability in taste perception across different menstrual cycle phases. The study found that semaglutide not only altered taste perception but also affected taste bud gene expression and brain activity in response to sweet tastes. While previous studies have suggested that patients treated with semaglutide have reduced food cravings, the findings of this study are specific to a controlled environment and may not reflect everyday experiences. Future research will focus on the broader implications of semaglutide in treating obesity.
Mir Ali, MD, a board-certified bariatric surgeon, found the study’s results intriguing, noting changes in taste in patients who lose weight post-surgery. He raised questions about whether the observed changes in taste were due to the medication itself or weight loss and how taste and smell interactions play a role. Improvements in taste sensitivity can potentially influence food intake behavior, with taste acting as a gatekeeper for controlling food consumption. While enhanced taste sensation may make healthier foods more appealing, it could also make unhealthy foods more tempting. Despite the challenges posed by modulating taste perception pharmacologically, further exploration of this area remains a clinical challenge. By understanding the relationship between taste sensitivity, brain response to tastes, and obesity, researchers can gain insights into potential treatment options for improving metabolic health.
