In this study, researchers analyzed salivary EVs from 90 participants of the “Obese-Taste-Bud” study using small RNA sequencing. They identified 626 distinct microRNAs enriched in biological pathways involved in energy regulation, obesity, diabetes, cell signaling, and taste perception. Among these, miR-1246, miR-1290, and miR-148a-3p showed significant associations with key metabolic and physiological indicators, including fasting blood glucose, cholesterol levels, anthropometric measures, and blood pressure (p < 0.05). These microRNAs were also linked to individual differences in eating behavior traits.
Additionally, several other microRNAs were associated with variations in taste recognition and correlated with parameters of glucose metabolism, periodontal health, salivary insulin levels, and food intake (p < 0.05).
“With this study, we reveal a connection between EV-derived microRNAs and metabolic regulation, taste perception, and eating behavior,” says Dr. Kerstin Rohde-Zimmermann, lead researcher of the study. “Salivary EVs may serve as biomarkers that reflect metabolic changes and could provide novel targets for the prevention or treatment of obesity.”
This research highlights the potential of salivary-based molecular profiling to provide insights into the complex interplay between metabolic regulation and behavior, opening new avenues for personalized approaches to tackling obesity.
Original publication
Röhrborn al., 2025: Salivary Extracellular Vesicle-Derived microRNAs Are Related to Variances in Parameters of Obesity, Taste and Eating Behaviour. Molecular Metabolism. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2025.102265
Funding information
This study was financed by a project grant from the Else Kröner-Fresenius-Foundation to K.R.Z. (2021_EKEA.30). The OTB Study has been funded by the Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic, Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG), an institute from Helmholtz Munich at Leipzig University and the University of Leipzig Medical Center, AöR, and was further supported by grants from the Faculty of Medicine at Leipzig University to I.S. and K.R.Z (IFBADI-042).
