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Study · Case report or series · n = 1 · 2025

3 results

Subjective Olfactory Impairment in a Patient Undergoing Anti-Obesity Pharmacotherapy: A Case of Symptom-Test Discrepancy.

Lee HJ, Min HJ

Life (Basel, Switzerland)26 Aug 2025

PMID41010291 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC12471383 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.3390/life15091349 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-41010291
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Summary

With the growing use of anti-obesity medications (AOMs), particularly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, interest in their impact on chemosensory function has increased. We report a case of subjective olfactory discomfort that developed during AOM therapy despite normal objective test results. A 41-year-old woman received the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide for 24 weeks. Thorough olfactory function evaluation was performed using the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (a validated questionnaire), the Yonsei Olfactory Function Test (for psychophysical testing), and chemical gustometry. The tests were performed before treatment and after 24 weeks of AOM therapy. At baseline, the patient had no olfactory complaints and showed normal test results. After treatment, she reported significant subjective olfactory discomfort (visual analog scale score: 48, maximum: 50), with decreased quality of life and parosmia, despite stable Yonsei Olfactory Function scores and normal gustatory function. This case highlights the possible mismatch between subjective and objective olfactory assessment during AOM therapy. Comprehensive chemosensory evaluations and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential, and further large-scale long-term studies are required.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study3

3 results from studies that gave the peptide. 3 results from people.

  1. 01HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    A 41-year-old woman reported significant subjective olfactory discomfort with parosmia and lower quality of life after 24 weeks of semaglutide.

    In plain wordsOne woman reported a strong, bothersome change in smell after 24 weeks of semaglutide; one case cannot show the cause.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    IncreaseSubjective olfactory discomfort
    Study

    n = 1

    Comparator
    Baseline
    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · 24 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Olfactory discomfort VAS
    48 points (max 50)
    after 24 weeks

    Source sentences

    Summary
    she reported significant subjective olfactory discomfort (visual analog scale score: 48, maximum: 50), with decreased quality of life and parosmia
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    A 41-year-old woman received the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide for 24 weeks.
  2. 02HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    Objective olfactory test scores (Yonsei Olfactory Function Test) were stable after 24 weeks of semaglutide in this patient.

    In plain wordsIn this one woman, measured smell test scores stayed stable after 24 weeks of semaglutide.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    No significant changeObjective olfactory function (Yonsei Olfactory Function Test)
    Study

    n = 1

    Comparator
    Baseline
    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · 24 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    despite stable Yonsei Olfactory Function scores
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    A 41-year-old woman received the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide for 24 weeks.
  3. 03HumanCase report or seriesSafety outcome

    Gustatory function was normal after 24 weeks of semaglutide in this patient.

    In plain wordsIn this one woman, taste function stayed normal after 24 weeks of semaglutide.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    No significant changeGustatory function
    Study

    n = 1

    Comparator
    Baseline
    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · 24 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    normal gustatory function.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    A 41-year-old woman received the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide for 24 weeks.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    11 Oct 2026, 00:04 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 03:06 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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