Single nucleotide polymorphisms in sweet, fat, umami, salt, bitter and sour taste receptor genes are associated with gustatory function and taste preferences in young adults.

Taste is a fundamental mechanism whereby compounds are detected orally, yet it is highly variable among individuals. The variability in taste that is attributable to genetics is not well-characterized despite its potential role in food selection, and therefore, eating habits that contribute to risk of overweight and obesity. In order to implicate measures of taste function and preference as potentially deterministic factors in adverse eating behaviors that lead to obesity, it must be shown that a relationship exists between genetic variation in taste receptor genes and psychophysical measures of taste in the absence high body mass index. The primary objective of this pilot study was to investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in taste receptor genes and 3 different psychophysical measures of taste in healthy young adults. Sweet, salt, umami, fat, sour, and bitter taste receptor gene SNPs were genotyped in 49 participants (ages 24.6 ± 0.6 years) who completed testing to determine oral detection threshold (DT), suprathreshold sensitivity (ST) and taste preference (PR). A simultaneous association test was conducted between each SNP and the 3 taste outcomes (DT, ST, and PR). Twelve SNPs were associated with at least one of the 3 taste outcomes. Associations were observed between SNPs in taste receptor genes and psychophysical measures of sweet, fat, umami, and salt taste. These results suggest that differences in interindividual psychophysical measures of tastes, namely DT, ST, and PR, may be partially attributed to genetic variation in taste receptor genes. Future studies are warranted to investigate if these findings have consequences for habitual dietary intake of foods that elicit these tastes.

Chamoun E ，Liu AS ，Duizer LM ，Feng Z ，Darlington G ，Duncan AM ，Haines J ，Ma DWL ... -  《-》

The Relationship between Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Taste Receptor Genes, Taste Function and Dietary Intake in Preschool-Aged Children and Adults in the Guelph Family Health Study.

Chamoun E ，Carroll NA ，Duizer LM ，Qi W ，Feng Z ，Darlington G ，Duncan AM ，Haines J ，Ma DWL ，Guelph Family Health Study ... -  《Nutrients》

Bitter, Sweet, Salty, Sour and Umami Taste Perception Decreases with Age: Sex-Specific Analysis, Modulation by Genetic Variants and Taste-Preference Associations in 18 to 80 Year-Old Subjects.

Barragán R ，Coltell O ，Portolés O ，Asensio EM ，Sorlí JV ，Ortega-Azorín C ，González JI ，Sáiz C ，Fernández-Carrión R ，Ordovas JM ，Corella D ... -  《Nutrients》

A review of the associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms in taste receptors, eating behaviors, and health.

Chamoun E ，Mutch DM ，Allen-Vercoe E ，Buchholz AC ，Duncan AM ，Spriet LL ，Haines J ，Ma DWL ，Guelph Family Health Study ... -  《-》

Taste Sensitivity and Taste Preference Measures Are Correlated in Healthy Young Adults.

Chamoun E ，Liu AAS ，Duizer LM ，Darlington G ，Duncan AM ，Haines J ，Ma DWL ... -  《-》