The Obese Taste Bud study: Objectives and study design

Alexander Kersten; Andrea Lorenz; Cita Nottmeier; Michael Schmidt; Anuschka Roesner; Florian Christoph Richter; Kristin Röhrborn; A Veronica Witte; Sebastian Hahnel; Till Koehne; Matthias Blüher; Michael Stumvoll; Kerstin Rohde-Zimmermann; Imke Schamarek

doi:10.1111/dom.15563

The Obese Taste Bud study: Objectives and study design

Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024 Apr 15. doi: 10.1111/dom.15563. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Alexander Kersten¹, Andrea Lorenz², Cita Nottmeier³, Michael Schmidt⁴, Anuschka Roesner⁵, Florian Christoph Richter⁶, Kristin Röhrborn⁷, A Veronica Witte^{8

9}, Sebastian Hahnel^{2

4}, Till Koehne³, Matthias Blüher^{1

7}, Michael Stumvoll^{1

7}, Kerstin Rohde-Zimmermann⁷, Imke Schamarek^{1

7}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine III, Division of Endocrinology, Nephrology and Rheumatology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
² Department of Prosthodontics and Materials Science, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
³ Department of Orthodontics, University of Leipzig Medical Centre, Leipzig, Germany.
⁴ Clinic of Prosthodontics, University Clinic of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
⁵ Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, University Hospital Freiburg Centre for Dental Medicine, Freiburg, Germany.
⁶ Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University of Leipzig Medical Centre, Leipzig, Germany.
⁷ Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG), Helmholtz Centre Munich at the University Leipzig and the University Clinic Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
⁸ Cognitive Neurology, University of Leipzig Medical Centre, Leipzig, Germany.
⁹ Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.

PMID: 38618969
DOI: 10.1111/dom.15563

Abstract

Aims: Taste modifies eating behaviour, impacting body weight and potentially obesity development. The Obese Taste Bud (OTB) Study is a prospective cohort study launched in 2020 at the University of Leipzig Obesity Centre in cooperation with the HI-MAG Institute. OTB will test the hypothesis that taste cell homeostasis and taste perception are linked to obesity. Here, we provide the study design, data collection process and baseline characteristics.

Materials and methods: Participants presenting overweight, obesity or normal weight undergo taste and smell tests, anthropometric, and taste bud density (TBD) assessment on Day 1. Information on physical and mental health, eating behaviour, physical activity, and dental hygiene are obtained, while biomaterial (saliva, tongue swap, blood) is collected in the fasted state. Further blood samples are taken during a glucose tolerance test. A stool sample is collected at home prior to Day 2, on which a taste bud biopsy follows dental examination. A subsample undergoes functional magnetic resonance imaging while exposed to eating-related cognitive tasks. Follow-up investigations after conventional weight loss interventions and bariatric surgery will be included.

Results: Initial results show that glycated haemoglobin levels and age are negatively associated with TBD, while an unfavourable metabolic profile, current dieting, and vegan diet are related to taste perception. Olfactory function negatively correlates with age and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Conclusion: Initial findings suggest that metabolic alterations are relevant for taste and smell function and TBD. By combining omics data from collected biomaterial with physiological, metabolic and psychological data related to taste perception and eating behaviour, the OTB study aims to strengthen our understanding of taste perception in obesity.

Keywords: inflammation; metabolic disease; obesity; oral microbiome; taste cell homeostasis; taste perception.

Abstract

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