Key Takeaways
[ 1 ]
The drug may even alter genes in the tongue assort with taste bud growth , per the research , which was presented at ENDO 2024 , the Endocrine Society ’s annual meeting in Boston .
This hypothesis , along with studies in mice show up that the absence of GLP-1 endocrine dramatically reduce the perception of sweetness , lead researchers to believe that semaglutide would better taste sensitiveness in the great unwashed .
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy act on more than just the gut.
Semaglutide Improved Sensitivity to Sweet Flavors
In this “ substantiation of construct ” study , investigators willy-nilly assigned 30 women to receive weekly injection of either 1 mg ( mg ) of semaglutide or placebo for 16 weeks . Participants were on ordinary 34 years old with abody mass index ( BMI)of 36.4 .
Before set out the sketch , investigator measured the participants ’ current sensitivity to different tastes , using 16 taste strip infused with four different assiduity of sweet , false , salty , and bitter meat . The womanhood were asked to discover the taste of each strip , and every correct result counted as one point , with a potential aggregate of 16 point overall .
Researchers also took a small biopsy of each participant ’s tongue , to analyze genes attach to taste buds .
Finally , researcher carry MRI brainiac CAT scan of the women as a gratifying root was dropped onto their tongues , both before and after a meal .
These trial run were double on the two groups at the end of the study period .
At the end of the study , the women taking semaglutide increase their taste sensitivity from 11.9 to 14.4 points . They also evince decrease activating in the mentality ’s reward system .
The natural language biopsy also found that gene associated with taste bud development and regrowth were dissimilar between the semaglutide and placebo groups .
“ This newspaper publisher highlights the complex interactions between taste , internal secretion signals , diet , and weight variety , ” saysAlex DiFeliceantonio , PhD , a researcher and an adjunct professor in human nourishment , food , and exercise at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg , Virginia , who was not involve in the sketch . “ We still have so much to take , ” she says .
But research worker have n’t share some aspects of the discipline intention , so it ’s hard to secern if they controlled for other factor that affect mouthful perception and cistron expression on the tongue , such as change in dietary habits and weight loss , say Dr. DiFeliceantonio . “ Both of which could have change as a result of being on the drug , ” she tote up .
Why Does Taste Sensitivity Matter for Weight Loss?
[ 2 ]
These finding could help experts empathise and potentially adjust taste preferences in the great unwashed with fleshiness , say Dr. Jensterle Sever .
They may also resonate with some Dr. who ’ve report that patients say their interestingness in certain food has changed since they started a GLP-1 , she says .
If you ’re considering GLP-1 medicine , you may be wondering where you ’d even get it . We have info that can aid . Here ’s our scout to thebest ways to grease one’s palms GLP-1s online .
GLP-1 May Reduce Cravings by Acting on the Brain
[ 3 ]
But one thing is becoming clear : drug like Wegovy do n’t just impact weight unit and diabetes by way of the digestive scheme . GLP-1 receptor are widely broadcast in other country of the torso , including the brain , gut , and kidneys , as well as the cardiovascular and immune systems , says Diana Isaacs , PharmD , an endocrine clinical chemist’s shop medical specialist at theEndocrine and Metabolism Instituteat Cleveland Clinic in Ohio .
This suggests that , in accession to slowing down the gut , drug like Ozempic could be changing something in the brain that build people crave certain food , articulate DiFeliceantonio .
Do Changes in Taste Help Contribute to Weight Loss? It’s Too Soon to Say
Although the effect of semaglutide on taste was clinically noticeable in this study , it ’s ill-defined if this impacts how the drug influences weight loss or appetite in the “ existent world , ” says Jensterle Sever .
“ At this power point , we can not generalize that those exact semaglutide do not crave sweets or that consume sweets does n’t give the same pleasure , ” she says .
Becky Upham has been professionally involved in wellness and wellness for almost 20 years . She ’s been a airstream manager , a recruiter for Team in Training for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society , a salesperson for a major pharmaceutical party , a blogger for Moogfest , a communicating manager for Mission Health , a fitness instructor , and a wellness coach .
She major in English at the University of North Carolina and has a lord ’s in English writing from Hollins University .
Upham enjoys teaching cycling class , running , reading fabrication , and making playlists .
Weight Loss