Semaglutide Enhances Sweet Taste Sensitivity in Obese Women, Study Finds

Researchers at the University Medical Centre in Ljubljana, Slovenia, have discovered that semaglutide, a medication sold under brand names like Ozempic, improves taste sensitivity in obese women. The findings were presented at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, on June 1, 2024.

The 16-week study involved 30 women with an average BMI of 36.4, who were randomly assigned to receive either semaglutide or a placebo. Researchers measured taste sensitivity using strips with concentrations of four basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. MRI scans were used to evaluate brain responses to a sweet solution, and tongue biopsies were conducted to assess mRNA expression within tongue tissue.

The study found that participants who took semaglutide experienced changes in taste perception, taste bud gene expression, and brain activity in response to sweet tastes. Specifically, semaglutide improved taste sensitivity, particularly for sweet flavors. Mojca Jensterle Sever, PhD, the first author of the study, explained, 'Alterations in metabolic health can significantly affect taste perception. Obese individuals might perceive sweet tastes as less intense and may need more sweet-tasting agents to satisfy their reward-producing need for sweet.'*

Mir Ali, MD, a board-certified bariatric surgeon, found the study's findings intriguing but noted that it was unclear whether the medication itself or weight loss was causing the change in taste. 'What was hard to determine for me was whether it's the actual medication causing the change in taste or whether it's the weight loss,' he stated.

Why this matters: Understanding how semaglutide affects taste sensitivity in obese individuals could lead to new approaches for treating obesity and related metabolic disorders. This could have significant implications for public health, as obesity is a major risk factor for many serious diseases.

The implications of this study suggest that semaglutide may play a role in improving taste sensitivity in obese individuals, potentially leading to healthier food choices. Improvements in taste sensitivity could make healthy foods more appealing, but may also make unhealthy foods more appealing, highlighting the need for further research.

The study's methodology included MRI scans to evaluate brain responses to a sweet solution before and after a standard meal, and tongue biopsies to evaluate mRNA expression within tongue tissue. Previous studies have reported that patients treated with semaglutide have reduced intensity of desire for sweet, savory, and salty foods.

The research team acknowledges that further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms behind semaglutide's effects on taste perception and to explore its potential as a treatment for obesity. Exploring the potential possibilities to modulate gustatory coding by pharmacological manipulation remains an intriguing clinical challenge.

This study conducted by the University Medical Centre in Ljubljana provides new insights into the relationship between semaglutide, obesity, and taste perception. These findings may have implications for the treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders.

Key Takeaways

• Semaglutide (Ozempic) improves taste sensitivity in obese women, especially for sweet flavors.
• 16-week study found changes in taste perception, gene expression, and brain activity in response to sweet tastes.
• Researchers unclear if medication or weight loss causes change in taste.
• Improved taste sensitivity could lead to healthier food choices and new obesity treatments.
• Further research needed to clarify mechanisms and explore semaglutide's potential as an obesity treatment.