Semaglutide, a widely used weekly injection for managing diabetes and weight loss, has been found in new research to affect taste sensitivity and perception, particularly in women with obesity.
Mojca Jensterle Sever, from the University Medical Centre in Ljubljana, Slovenia, explained that individuals with obesity often perceive tastes less intensely and have a heightened desire for sweet and energy-dense foods. In their study, Jensterle Sever and her team administered either 1 milligram of semaglutide or a placebo to 30 obese women over 16 weeks.
Semaglutide, marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy, is known to reduce appetite and cravings for energy-dense foods. The study measured taste sensitivity using strips containing various concentrations of basic tastes. MRI scans were conducted to observe brain responses to sweet tastes before and after meals, and tongue biopsies were analyzed for taste-related genes.
Participants who received semaglutide showed improved taste sensitivity and changes in taste perception and brain activity in response to sweet tastes. Despite reported instances of dysgeusia (altered taste) among Ozempic users, the research suggests potential benefits in taste modulation for those with obesity.
Jensterle Sever acknowledged limitations to the study, such as its focus on specific tastes in a controlled environment, which may not fully reflect real-world experiences. Nevertheless, she hopes these findings will contribute to understanding and potentially adjusting taste preferences in individuals with obesity.
