A new effect of Ozempic highlighted: it concerns the taste of food

Dysgeusia, this generally uncommon disorder which alters the perception of taste, had its heyday during the Covid-19 crisis. Now it is making its return to the forefront thanks to a new health wave: that of drugs based on semaglutide, originally intended to treat type 2 diabetes. On the social network TikTok, many users are complaining about the change in the taste of certain foods, after an injection of their treatment.

How do semaglutide medications work?

Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro… These antidiabetic treatments have become extremely popular in recent months in the United States for their slimming properties. In France, they are subject to strict monitoring by the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM), which is concerned about its “misuse“increasingly widespread, and reminiscent”that the use of the drug Ozempic (semaglutide) should be reserved for the treatment of insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes“Reinforced surveillance has been put in place with Health Insurance.”to ensure that the prescriptions respect this framework of use“.

These drugs are analogues of GLP-1, a hormone naturally produced by the body, which notably stimulates the secretion of insulin. Ozempic helps mimic this hormone, helping individuals suffering from type 2 diabetes, who cannot synthesize it. GLP-1 also blocks appetite hormones in the brain and slows stomach emptying, which can cause weight loss in some patients.

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What are the side effects of Ozempic?

But many side effects from taking these semaglutide medications have been reported since they came onto the market. The latest concerns, for example, an increase in fertility, a decline in sexual performance in men or even gastrointestinal disorders. This list has recently been extended, following a new study presented by Slovenian researchers on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the Society of Endocrinology, which is being held in Boston (United States), from June 1 to 4 .

Their results indicate that a weekly injection of semaglutide modifies taste sensitivity, taste perception and the brain’s response to sweet tastes in obese women. “Obese people often perceive tastes less “intensely” and have an inherently high desire for sweet, energy-dense foods“, explained Mojca Jensterle Sever, from the University Medical Center in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Further studies need to be carried out

MRI scans were performed to assess participants’ brain responses when a sugar solution was placed on their tongues before and after they ate a meal. A biopsy of their tongue was also carried out to analyze genes associated with taste.

Women who took treatment with semaglutide saw their taste sensitivity improve. Changes in their perception of taste were also observed, as well as in their brain activity in response to sweet tastes.

However, scientists are calling for additional research to be carried out on the subject. “This study only assessed the modification of a specific taste in a study environment, which may not reflect everyday experience“, said Jensterle Sever. “Taste perception can vary considerably from one person to another, which limits the generalizability of our results.“