Serum insulin and leptin levels and their association with taste perception and eating behavior following bariatric surgery

The present study aimed to investigate the possible association between serum leptin and insulin levels after bariatric surgery and taste perception, sweet taste desire, food craving, and eating behavior. In a prospective study, 19 patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery were assessed for serum insulin and leptin levels, fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Moreover, to assess the possible association between changes in fasting serum insulin and leptin with taste perception thresholds, using the staircase method; food craving, sweet taste desire, and eating behaviors subscales, via questionnaires, their changes were measured before and 3 months after the surgery. Eighteen participants aged 38.55 ± 10.56 years finished the study. Following the significant reduction in BMI, 3 months after surgery, serum leptin, insulin, HOMA-IR, and the thresholds of sweet and sour perception decreased significantly. There was no significant change in sweet taste desire, food craving, emotional eating, and restrained eating, but eating in response to external stimuli decreased significantly. The differences in fasting insulin and leptin levels did not show any significant association with changes in the sweet taste threshold, sweet taste desire, food craving, and emotional eating. Gastric bypass could possibly reduce FBG, insulin, leptin, and insulin resistance after 3 months. In addition, it was able to amend sweet and sour taste thresholds and also eating in response to external stimuli. But, 3 months after gastric bypass, the food craving, sweet taste desire, emotional eating and restrained eating remained unchanged.