GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Linked to Increased Risk of Smell and Taste Disturbances, Study Finds
核心洞察
A large observational study published in JAMA Otolaryngology found GLP-1RA users with type 2 diabetes (搜索) had higher rates of taste and smell disturbances compared to non-users.
Taste disturbances were identified in 769 GLP-1 users versus 445 controls, while smell disturbances affected 649 users versus 316 controls across over 430,000 participants per group.
Researchers suggest the sensory effects may stem from GLP-1 absorption into the central or peripheral nervous system, aligning with evidence of GLP-1 expression in neural pathways.
A new study published on June 25 in JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery suggests that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), a class of medications widely prescribed for type 2 diabetes (搜索) and obesity (搜索), may be associated with an increased risk of disturbances in smell and taste perception.
Drawing on electronic health records from the TriNetX (搜索) Global Collaborative Network — encompassing more than 170 healthcare institutions — researchers examined two groups of adults aged 18 or older diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (搜索) and with no prior history of smell or taste disturbances. Each group comprised more than 430,000 participants, approximately 55% female, with an average age of about 57 years. One group had been prescribed a GLP-1 medication following their diabetes diagnosis, while the control group received diabetes medications but no GLP-1 drugs.
Over a follow-up period ranging from three months to two years after GLP-1 discontinuation, taste disturbances were identified in 769 participants in the GLP-1 group, compared with 445 in the control group. Smell disturbances were reported by 649 participants in the GLP-1 group, versus 316 in the control group.
The documented sensory changes included anosmia (loss of smell), parosmia (where pleasant scents are perceived as foul or chemical), parageusia (where tastes are distorted or phantom flavors arise), and other unspecified alterations.
“This study suggests that GLP-1RA therapy is associated with a higher risk of smell and taste disturbance, highlighting the need for closer monitoring and greater public health awareness,” the study authors wrote.
Potential Mechanisms Under Investigation
The researchers proposed that the sensory effects may be linked to the drugs' absorption into the nervous system. “These findings align with evidence that GLP-1 is widely expressed and secreted within the nervous system, supporting potential effects in either the central or peripheral nervous system,” they wrote. The olfactory bulb and chemosensory pathways were specifically cited as possible sites of interaction.
The authors called for further research to validate their findings and to explore the mechanisms underlying the association.
Clinical Context and Expert Perspective
Mir Ali, MD, a bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in California, who was not involved in the study, told Healthline that he has not heard widespread concerns from patients about taste or smell impairment. “I don’t think it should discourage people from taking these medications,” he said. “The trade-off of getting to a healthy weight far outweighs any changes to taste or smell.”
Ali noted that weight loss itself can affect a person’s sense of taste and smell, and that while there are no specific treatments for temporary sensory dysfunction, “as weight stabilizes, taste and smell tend to return to a more normal state.”
Zhaoping Li, MD, a professor of clinical medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, who was also not involved in the study, emphasized the observational nature of the research. “It has not been a major issue,” Li told Healthline. “I don’t think it will have a major impact on people’s acceptance of these drugs.” She added a straightforward clinical consideration: “If it is related to the drugs, then you stop taking the drugs.”
Broader Implications of Sensory Dysfunction
According to the NHS, an estimated 12% of people in the United States suffer from some form of smell dysfunction, with the issue disproportionately affecting older adults. Nearly 19% of Americans report changes in their sense of taste as they age. Research has linked poor sense of smell to an increased risk of developing heart disease within four years, and smell loss has been identified as an early sign of dementia. Taste dysfunction has similarly been associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, as well as cardiovascular conditions including heart failure and stroke.
Beyond health implications, sensory loss carries practical risks — including the inability to detect hazards such as gas leaks or house fires. Taste dysfunction may also negatively impact eating habits, potentially leading to excessive salt intake, elevated blood pressure, and nutritional deficiencies.
The study authors underscored the importance of clinical vigilance: “Future research is required to validate these findings and to further explore the mechanisms underlying this association.”