A recent Nutrients journal study explores the association between polymorphisms in the bitter taste receptor genes, alcohol consumption, and body fat percentage. Study: The Influence of Taste Genes on Body Fat and Alcohol Consumption . Image Credit: kimberrywood / Shutterstock.
com Taste significantly influences the quality and quantity of food consumed. Humans can sense five different tastes, including bitterness, sourness, sweetness, saltiness, and umami. Bitter taste is extremely sensitive and might have evolved to identify toxic compounds.
The Taste 2 receptor (TAS2R) family of receptors is involved in detecting bitter taste; therefore, polymorphisms in these genes could alter the perception of bitter taste. Previous research has reported that the TAS2R38 gene mediates the bitter taste of thiourea compounds like phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) and 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP). Both are synthetic compounds structurally similar to bitter compounds found in cruciferous vegetables, leafy greens, and certain herbs and spices.
The TAS2R13 gene also corresponds to bitter taste. Both TAS2R13 and TAS2R38 have also been closely associated with dietary behaviors. For example, TAS2R38 has been shown to mediate an association between body fat percentage and PROP in six-year-old girls, with this association not observed in boys of the same age.
The present study explored the associations between TAS2R13 and TAS2R38 haplotype distribution, body fat percentage, and alcohol consumption. Among col.