Gastric bypass ‘alters preference for sweet substances’

WASHINGTON - Penn State College of Medicine researchers have found that gastric bypass surgery decreases the preference for sweet-tasting substances in obese rats.

The study could help in developing safer treatments for the morbidly obese.

“Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is the most common effective treatment for morbid obesity,” said Andras Hajnal, associate professor, Department of Neural and Behavioral Science and Surgery.

“Many patients report altered taste preferences after having the procedure,” he said.

This surgery involves the creation of a small gastric pouch and bypassing a portion of the upper small intestine.

It produces substantial and durable weight loss and significant improvements in obesity-related medical conditions including diabetes.

Obese rats given gastric bypass surgery showed a reduced preference for high concentration sucrose water when compared to obese rats that did not have surgery.

Researchers observed a similar decrease in preference with other sweet-tasting substances, but not for salty, sour or bitter substances. They observed no change in preference in lean rats that had gastric bypass surgery.

The researchers published their findings in the October issue of the “American Journal of Physiology, Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology. (ANI)