Semaglutide and Taste in Women With Obesity and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study
Primary result · Overall taste recognition scoreResult — go to the resultEstimated treatment difference 2.5 points 95% CI 1.7–3.3Authors' conclusion
In women with obesity and PCOS, semaglutide improved an overall taste recognition score, altered RNA expression in the tongue and modified brain activity in response to sweet and savory food cues and to tasting sweet solution.
Study context
- Population
- Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and obesity, aged 33.7 ± 6.1 years, BMI 36.4 ± 4.4 kg/m²
- Participants
- 30 women
- Comparison
- Semaglutide 1.0 mg once weekly vs placebo
- Primary endpoint
- Change in taste recognition (16 strips, 4 concentrations of the 4 basic tastes)
- Follow-up
- 16 weeks
Methodological detailssingle-blinded, placebo-controlled
- Single-blinded
- Placebo-controlled
Primary result
Overall taste recognition score
Estimated treatment difference
2.5 points
95% CI 1.7–3.3
Semaglutidevs Placebo
estimated treatment difference 2.5 points (95% CI 1.7–3.3)
As reported in the abstract
Further findings
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Brain responses on functional MRI | P < 0.001 |
- Brain responses on functional MRI: decreased putamen activation to visual food cues; increased angular gyrus activity to sweet solution after meal
Tongue RNA expression
- EYA, PRMT8, CRLF1 and CYP1B1 (taste signaling, neural plasticity, taste bud renewal) showed differential RNA expression
Original publication
Semaglutide and Taste in Women With Obesity and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 9 May 2025. doi:10.
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