Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Taste and Olfactory Changes Following Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy

  • Original Contributions
  • Published:
Obesity Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Alterations in taste/smell after bariatric surgery have been observed, but few data is available. Some authors documented these changes and their role on weight loss but there is no evidence after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).

Methods

Cohort study with patients submitted to laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGBP) and LSG that were asked to participate in a validated survey. The primary objective was to determinate the differences between procedures for taste and smell changes; a demographic and anthropometric analysis were also performed. Secondarily, the relation between food aversion and weight loss was also obtained.

Results

Final analysis was based on 154 patients (104 LGBP and 50 LSG). The overall mean time between surgery and questionnaire was 10 ± 6.7 months. Most of the patients (87.6 %) experienced some taste/smell change. There were no differences between procedures for any change, taste or smell change. More patients submitted to LGBP referred that food smelled different (51.9 vs 34 % for the LSG group; p = 0.040). Higher %EWL was observed for patients presenting food aversion (73.3 ± 19.7 vs 65.8 ± 19.4 % for those without aversion; p = 0.046). Based on type of surgery, the LGBP group had the same trend (%EWL of 78.2 ± 17.3 vs 70.4 ± 18.6 % for those without aversion; p = 0.044).

Conclusion

The majority of patients presented taste and olfactory changes soon after surgery independently of type of procedure. Patients submitted to LGBP referred more often a different smell in food. Higher %EWL was observed in patients presenting any food aversion, especially in the LGBP group.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Brolin RE. Update: NIH consensus conference. Gastrointestinal surgery for severe obesity. Nutrition. 1996;12:403–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Buchwald H, Avidor Y, Braunwald E, et al. Bariatric surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2004;292:1724–37.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Buchwald H, Oien DM. Metabolic/bariatric surgery worldwide 2008. Obes Surg. 2009;19:1605–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Buchwald H, Oien DM. Metabolic/bariatric surgery worldwide 2011. Obes Surg. 2013;23:427–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Attiah MA, Halpern CH, Balmuri U, et al. Durability of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery: a meta-regression study. Ann Surg. 2012;256:251–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Mason EE, Ito C. Gastric bypass. Ann Surg. 1969;170:329–39.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Brolin RE, LaMarca LB, Kenler HA, et al. Malabsorptive gastric bypass in patients with superobesity. J Gastrointest Surg. 2002;6:195–203. discussion 4-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Tadross JA, le Roux CW. The mechanisms of weight loss after bariatric surgery. Int J Obes. 2009;33 Suppl 1:S28–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Burge JC, Schaumburg JZ, Choban PS, et al. Changes in patients’ taste acuity after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for clinically severe obesity. J Am Diet Assoc. 1995;95:666–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Scruggs DM, Buffington C, Cowan Jr GS. Taste acuity of the morbidly obese before and after gastric bypass surgery. Obes Surg. 1994;4:24–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Harris AM, Griffin SM. Postoperative taste and smell deficit after upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery—an unreported complication. J Surg Oncol. 2003;82:147–50. discussion 50-2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Tichansky DS, Boughter Jr JD, Madan AK. Taste change after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2006;2:440–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Graham L, Murty G, Bowrey DJ. Taste, smell and appetite change after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Obes Surg. 2014;24:1463–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Halmi KA, Mason E, Falk JR, et al. Appetitive behavior after gastric bypass for obesity. Int J Obes. 1981;5:457–64.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Brown EK, Settle EA, Van Rij AM. Food intake patterns of gastric bypass patients. J Am Diet Assoc. 1982;80:437–43.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Kenler HA, Brolin RE, Cody RP. Changes in eating behavior after horizontal gastroplasty and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Am J Clin Nutr. 1990;52:87–92.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Tichansky DS, Glatt AR, Madan AK, et al. Decrease in sweet taste in rats after gastric bypass surgery. Surg Endosc. 2011;25:1176–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Peterli R, Steinert RE, Woelnerhanssen B, et al. Metabolic and hormonal changes after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy: a randomized, prospective trial. Obes Surg. 2012;22:740–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Ramon JM, Salvans S, Crous X, et al. Effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass vs sleeve gastrectomy on glucose and gut hormones: a prospective randomised trial. J Gastrointest Surg. 2012;16:1116–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Dotson CD, Geraedts MC, Munger SD. Peptide regulators of peripheral taste function. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2013;24:232–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Martin B, Dotson CD, Shin YK, et al. Modulation of taste sensitivity by GLP-1 signaling in taste buds. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2009;1170:98–101.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Martin C, Passilly-Degrace P, Chevrot M, et al. Lipid-mediated release of GLP-1 by mouse taste buds from circumvallate papillae: putative involvement of GPR120 and impact on taste sensitivity. J Lipid Res. 2012;53:2256–65.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Richardson BE, Vander Woude EA, Sudan R, et al. Altered olfactory acuity in the morbidly obese. Obes Surg. 2004;14:967–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Richardson BE, Vanderwoude EA, Sudan R, et al. Gastric bypass does not influence olfactory function in obese patients. Obes Surg. 2012;22:283–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Miras AD, le Roux CW. Bariatric surgery and taste: novel mechanisms of weight loss. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2010;26:140–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Still CD, Wood GC, Chu X, et al. Clinical factors associated with weight loss outcomes after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Obesity. 2014;22:888–94.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Palmisano S, Silvestri M, Giuricin M, et al. Preoperative predictive factors of successful weight loss and glycaemic control 1 year after gastric bypass for morbid obesity. Obes Surg 2015

  28. Deitel M, Gawdat K, Melissas J. Reporting weight loss 2007. Obes Surg. 2007;17:565–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Obesity Clinic at “Hospital General Tláhuac”, Avenida La Turba #655, Col. Villa Centroamericana y del Caribe, Del. Tláhuac, 13278, Mexico City, Mexico

    Carlos Zerrweck, Guillermo Álvarez, Hernán G. Maydón, Elisa M. Sepúlveda, Amaya Caviedes & Lizbeth Guilbert

  2. The Obesity Clinic at “Hospital General Dr. Rubén Leñero”, Mexico City, Mexico

    Luis Zurita & Francisco Campos

Authors
  1. Carlos Zerrweck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Luis Zurita
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Guillermo Álvarez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hernán G. Maydón
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Elisa M. Sepúlveda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Francisco Campos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Amaya Caviedes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Lizbeth Guilbert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carlos Zerrweck.

Ethics declarations

For this type of study, formal consent is not required.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Informed Consent

Does not apply.

Taste and Smell Questionnaire Addapted from Tichansky et al. [12] and Graham et al. [13]

Taste and Smell Questionnaire Addapted from Tichansky et al. [12] and Graham et al. [13]

Please circle the most appropriate answer or circle the relevant number on the scale (1–10).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zerrweck, C., Zurita, L., Álvarez, G. et al. Taste and Olfactory Changes Following Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy. OBES SURG 26, 1296–1302 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-015-1944-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-015-1944-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation