Genetic Predisposition and Taste Preference: Impact on Food Intake and Risk of Chronic Disease

Current Nutrition Reports

Volumn 1, Issue 3, 2012, Pages 175-183

  Dotson, Cedrick D ^a,b   Babich, Jennifer ^c   Steinle, Nanette I ^c,d  

^a UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE   (United States)

^b UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA   (United States)

^c UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE   (United States)

^d BALTIMORE VA MEDICAL CENTER   (United States)

Author keywords

Bitter; Cancer; Chronic disease; Diabetes; Food intake; Genetic predisposition; Genetic variation; Genetics; Hypertension; Obesity; Peripheral gustatory system; Salty; Sour; Sweet; Taste; Taste preference; Umami

Indexed keywords

BENZOIC ACID; FLAVONOID; G PROTEIN COUPLED RECEPTOR; GLUTAMIC ACID; POLYPHENOL; POTASSIUM CHLORIDE; PROPYLTHIOURACIL; SACCHARIN;

BITTER TASTE; BODY MASS; CHRONIC DISEASE; FEEDING BEHAVIOR; FOOD INTAKE; GENE EXPRESSION; GENETIC POLYMORPHISM; GENETIC PREDISPOSITION; GENETIC VARIABILITY; GUSTATORY SYSTEM; HUMAN; METABOLISM; NONHUMAN; PRIORITY JOURNAL; REVIEW; SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS; SWEETNESS; TASTE BUD; TASTE PREFERENCE;

EID: 84892174369     PISSN: None     EISSN: 21613311     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1007/s13668-012-0021-3     Document Type: Review

References (100)

1. Rozin P, Vollmecke TA. Food likes and dislikes. Annu Rev Nutr. 1986; 6: 433-56.
2. Rouse I, Beilin L, Armstrong B, Vandongen R. Blood-pressure-lowering effect of a vegetarian diet: controlled trial in normotensive subjects. Lancet. 1983; 1(8314-5): 5-10.
3. Appel L, Moore T, Obarzanek E, Vollmer W, Svetkey L, Sacks F, Bray G, Vogt T, Cutler J, Windhauser M, et al. A clinical trial of the effects of dietary patterns on blood pressure. DASH Collaborative Research Group. N Engl J Med. 1997; 336(16): 1117-24.
4. Brinkworth G, Noakes M, Buckley J, Keogh J, Clifton P. Long-term effects of a very-low-carbohydrate weight loss diet compared with an isocaloric low-fat diet after 12 mo. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009; 90(1): 23-32.
5. Herder C, Peltonen M, Koenig W, Sütfels K, Lindström J, Martin S, Ilanne-Parikka P, Eriksson J, Aunola S, Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi S, et al. Anti-inflammatory effect of lifestyle changes in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study. Diabetologia. 2009; 52(3): 433-42.
6. Ding E, Mozaffarian D. Optimal dietary habits for the prevention of stroke. Semin Neurol. 2006; 26(1): 11-23.
7. Hu F, Manson J, Stampfer M, Colditz G, Liu S, Solomon C, Willett W. Diet, lifestyle, and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in women. N Engl J Med. 2001; 345(11): 790-7.
8. Lindström J, Peltonen M, Eriksson J, Louheranta A, Fogelholm M, Uusitupa M, Tuomilehto J. High-fibre, low-fat diet predicts long-term weight loss and decreased type 2 diabetes risk: the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study. Diabetologia. 2006; 49(5): 912-20.
9. McCarron D, Reusser M. Reducing cardiovascular disease risk with diet. Obes Res. 2001; 9 Suppl 4: 335S-40S.
10. Swain J, McCarron P, Hamilton E, Sacks F, Appel L. Characteristics of the diet patterns tested in the optimal macronutrient intake trial to prevent heart disease (OmniHeart): options for a heart-healthy diet. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008; 108(2): 257-65.
11. Morrison C, Berthoud H. Neurobiology of nutrition and obesity. Nutr Rev. 2007; 65(12 Pt 1): 517-34.
12. Zheng H, Lenard N, Shin A, Berthoud H. Appetite control and energy balance regulation in the modern world: reward-driven brain overrides repletion signals. Int J Obes (Lond). 2009; 33 Suppl 2: S8-S13.
13. Ahima R, Antwi D. Brain regulation of appetite and satiety. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2008; 37(4): 811-23.
14. Saper C, Chou T, Elmquist J. The need to feed: homeostatic and hedonic control of eating. Neuron. 2002; 36(2): 199-211.
15. Breslin P, Spector A. Mammalian taste perception. Curr Biol. 2008; 18(4): R148-55.
16. Yarmolinsky DA, Zuker CS, Ryba NJ. Common sense about taste: from mammals to insects. Cell. 2009; 139(2): 234-44.
17. Carleton A, Accolla R, Simon SA. Coding in the mammalian gustatory system. Trends Neurosci. 2010; 33(7): 326-34.
18. Bartoshuk LM. Taste. In: Stevens SS, Atkinson RC, editors. Stevens' handbook of experimental psychology, vol. 2. New York: Wiley; 1988. p. 461-99.
19. Eddy MC, Eschle BK, Barrows J, Hallock RM, Finger TE, Delay ER. Double P2X2/P2X3 purinergic receptor knockout mice do not taste NaCl or the artificial sweetener SC45647. Chem Senses. 2009; 34(9): 789-97.
20. Finger TE, Danilova V, Barrows J, Bartel DL, Vigers AJ, Stone L, Hellekant G, Kinnamon SC. ATP signaling is crucial for communication from taste buds to gustatory nerves. Science. 2005; 310(5753): 1495-9.
21. Hayato R, Ohtubo Y, Yoshii K. Functional expression of ionotropic purinergic receptors on mouse taste bud cells. J Physiol. 2007; 584(Pt 2): 473-88.
22. DeFazio RA, Dvoryanchikov G, Maruyama Y, Kim JW, Pereira E, Roper SD, Chaudhari N. Separate populations of receptor cells and presynaptic cells in mouse taste buds. J Neurosci. 2006; 26(15): 3971-80.
23. Clapp TR, Medler KF, Damak S, Margolskee RF, Kinnamon SC. Mouse taste cells with G protein-coupled taste receptors lack voltage-gated calcium channels and SNAP-25. BMC Biol. 2006; 4: 7.
24. Huang A, Chen X, Hoon M, Chandrashekar J, Guo W, Tränkner D, Ryba N, Zuker C. The cells and logic for mammalian sour taste detection. Nature. 2006; 442(7105): 934-8.
25. Kataoka S, Yang R, Ishimaru Y, Matsunami H, Sévigny J, Kinnamon J, Finger T. The candidate sour taste receptor, PKD2L1, is expressed by type III taste cells in the mouse. Chem Senses. 2008; 33(3): 243-54.
26. Yoshida R, Horio N, Murata Y, Yasumatsu K, Shigemura N, Ninomiya Y. NaCl responsive taste cells in the mouse fungiform taste buds. Neuroscience. 2009; 159(2): 795-803.
27. Vandenbeuch A, Clapp TR, Kinnamon SC. Amiloride-sensitive channels in type I fungiform taste cells in mouse. BMC Neurosci. 2008; 9: 1.
28. Chandrashekar J, Kuhn C, Oka Y, Yarmolinsky DA, Hummler E, Ryba NJ, Zuker CS. The cells and peripheral representation of sodium taste in mice. Nature. 2010; 464(7286): 297-301.
29. Zhao GQ, Zhang Y, Hoon MA, Chandrashekar J, Erlenbach I, Ryba NJ, Zuker CS. The receptors for mammalian sweet and umami taste. Cell. 2003; 115(3): 255-66.
30. Nelson G, Hoon MA, Chandrashekar J, Zhang Y, Ryba NJ, Zuker CS. Mammalian sweet taste receptors. Cell. 2001; 106(3): 381-90.
31. Li X, Staszewski L, Xu H, Durick K, Zoller M, Adler E. Human receptors for sweet and umami taste. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002; 99(7): 4692-6.
32. Chandrashekar J, Mueller KL, Hoon MA, Adler E, Feng L, Guo W, Zuker CS, Ryba NJ. T2Rs function as bitter taste receptors. Cell. 2000; 100(6): 703-11.
33. Meyerhof W. Elucidation of mammalian bitter taste. Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol. 2005; 154: 37-72.
34. Lindemann B. Receptors and transduction in taste. Nature. 2001; 413(6852): 219-25.
35. Wooding S. Phenylthiocarbamide: a 75-year adventure in genetics and natural selection. Genetics. 2006; 172(4): 2015-23.
36. Tepper B. Nutritional implications of genetic taste variation: the role of PROP sensitivity and other taste phenotypes. Ann Rev Nutr. 2008; 28: 367-88.
37. Fox AL. The relationship between chemical constitution and taste. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1932; 18(1): 115-20.
38. Bartoshuk LM, Duffy VB, Miller IJ. PTC/PROP tasting: anatomy, psychophysics, and sex effects. Physiol Behav. 1994; 56(6): 1165-71.
39. Kim UK, Jorgenson E, Coon H, Leppert M, Risch N, Drayna D. Positional cloning of the human quantitative trait locus underlying taste sensitivity to phenylthiocarbamide. Science. 2003; 299(5610): 1221-5.
40. Bufe B, Breslin PA, Kuhn C, Reed DR, Tharp CD, Slack JP, Kim UK, Drayna D, Meyerhof W. The molecular basis of individual differences in phenylthiocarbamide and propylthiouracil bitterness perception. Curr Biol. 2005; 15(4): 322-7.
41. Delwiche JF, Buletic Z, Breslin PA. Covariation in individuals' sensitivities to bitter compounds: evidence supporting multiple receptor/transduction mechanisms. Percept Psychophys. 2001; 63(5): 761-76.
42. Cabras T, Melis M, Castagnola M, Padiglia A, Tepper BJ, Messana I, Tomassini Barbarossa I. Responsiveness to 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) is associated with salivary levels of two specific basic proline-rich proteins in humans. PLoS One. 2012; 7(2): e30962.
43. Calò C, Padiglia A, Zonza A, Corrias L, Contu P, Tepper BJ, Barbarossa IT. Polymorphisms in TAS2R38 and the taste bud trophic factor, gustin gene co-operate in modulating PROP taste phenotype. Physiol Behav. 2011; 104(5): 1065-71.
44. Padiglia A, Zonza A, Atzori E, Chillotti C, Calò C, Tepper BJ, Barbarossa IT. Sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil is associated with gustin (carbonic anhydrase VI) gene polymorphism, salivary zinc, and body mass index in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010; 92(3): 539-45. This explains some of the hidden variance in PROP taste responsiveness: The GUSTIN (CA6) gene is a trophic factor for taste bud development. This study investigated the role of this gene in PROP tasting. These researchers showed that a polymorphism in the GUSTIN gene results in a loss of full functionality of the protein. Variation in this gene was associated with PROP taster status (the genotype associated with a disruption in the protein was more frequent in nontasters). These data suggest that variation in GUSTIN may be associated with differences in papillae densities and oral chemosensory abilities across PROP phenotypic groups.
45. • Reed DR, Zhu G, Breslin PA, Duke FF, Henders AK, Campbell MJ, Montgomery GW, Medland SE, Martin NG, Wright MJ. The perception of quinine taste intensity is associated with common genetic variants in a bitter receptor cluster on chromosome 12. Hum Mol Genet. 2010; 19(21): 4278-85. This is only one of the only genome-wide evaluations of taste responsiveness: The perceived taste intensities of quinine HCl, caffeine, sucrose octaacetate (SOA), and PROP were examined. To identify genes involved in these phenotypes, a genome-wide association study was performed with 1, 457 twins and their siblings using approximately 610, 000 SNPs. For caffeine and SOA, no SNP association reached a genome-wide statistical significance. For PROP, the peak association was within TAS2R38, which accounted for 45. 9% of the trait variance. For quinine, the peak association was centered in a region that contained the bitter taste receptor, TAS2R19, as well as salivary protein genes and explained 5. 8% of the trait variance (this association was confirmed in a replication sample).
46. Hayes JE, Wallace MR, Knopik VS, Herbstman DM, Bartoshuk LM, Duffy VB. Allelic variation in TAS2R bitter receptor genes associates with variation in sensations from and ingestive behaviors toward common bitter beverages in adults. Chem Senses. 2011; 36(3): 311-9.
47. Pronin A, Xu H, Tang H, Zhang L, Li Q, Li X. Specific alleles of bitter receptor genes influence human sensitivity to the bitterness of aloin and saccharin. Curr Biol. 2007; 17(16): 1403-8.
48. Fushan A, Simons C, Slack J, Manichaikul A, Drayna D. Allelic polymorphism within the TAS1R3 promoter is associated with human taste sensitivity to sucrose. Curr Biol. 2009; 19(15): 1288-93.
49. Fushan AA, Simons CT, Slack JP, Drayna D. Association between common variation in genes encoding sweet taste signaling components and human sucrose perception. Chem Senses. 2010; 35(7): 579-92.
50. Raliou M, Wiencis A, Pillias AM, Planchais A, Eloit C, Boucher Y, Trotier D, Montmayeur JP, Faurion A. Nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in human tas1r1, tas1r3, and mGluR1 and individual taste sensitivity to glutamate. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009; 90(3): 789S-99S.
51. Raliou M, Grauso M, Hoffmann B, Schlegel-Le-Poupon C, Nespoulous C, Débat H, Belloir C, Wiencis A, Sigoillot M, Bano SP, et al. Human genetic polymorphisms in T1R1 and T1R3 taste receptor subunits affect their function. Chem Senses. 2011; 36(6): 527-37.
52. Keskitalo K, Knaapila A, Kallela M, Palotie A, Wessman M, Sammalisto S, Peltonen L, Tuorila H, Perola M. Sweet taste preferences are partly genetically determined: identification of a trait locus on chromosome 16. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007; 86(1): 55-63.
53. Wise P, Hansen J, Reed D, Breslin P. Twin study of the heritability of recognition thresholds for sour and salty taste. Chem Senses. 2007; 32(8): 749-54.
54. Kaplan AR, Fischer R, Karras A, Griffin F, Powell W, Marsters RW, Glanville EV. Taste thresholds in twins and siblings. Acta Genet Med Gemellol (Roma). 1967; 16(3): 229-43.
55. Huque T, Cowart B, Dankulich-Nagrudny L, Pribitkin E, Bayley D, Spielman A, Feldman R, Mackler S, Brand J. Sour ageusia in two individuals implicates ion channels of the ASIC and PKD families in human sour taste perception at the anterior tongue. PLoS One. 2009; 4(10): e7347.
56. Garcia-Bailo B, Toguri C, Eny K, El-Sohemy A. Genetic variation in taste and its influence on food selection. OMICS. 2009; 13(1): 69-80.
57. Drewnowski A, Henderson S, Shore A. Taste responses to naringin, a flavonoid, and the acceptance of grapefruit juice are related to genetic sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil. Am J Clin Nutr. 1997; 66(2): 391-7.
58. Dinehart M, Hayes J, Bartoshuk L, Lanier S, Duffy V. Bitter taste markers explain variability in vegetable sweetness, bitterness, and intake. Physiol Behav. 2006; 87(2): 304-13.
59. Drewnowski A, Henderson S, Shore A, Barratt-Fornell A. Sensory responses to 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) or sucrose solutions and food preferences in young women. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1998; 855: 797-801.
60. Drewnowski A, Henderson S, Levine A, Hann C. Taste and food preferences as predictors of dietary practices in young women. Public Health Nutr. 1999; 2(4): 513-9.
61. Drewnowski A, Henderson S, Hann C, Berg W, Ruffin M. Genetic taste markers and preferences for vegetables and fruit of female breast care patients. J Am Diet Assoc. 2000; 100(2): 191-7.
62. Fischer R, Griffin F, England S, Garn S. Taste thresholds and food dislikes. Nature. 1961; 191: 1328.
63. Glanville EV, Kaplan AR. Food preference and sensitivity of taste for bitter compounds. Nature. 1965; 205(4974): 851-3.
64. Jerzsa-Latta M, Krondl M, Coleman P. Use and perceived attributes of cruciferous vegetables in terms of genetically-mediated taste sensitivity. Appetite. 1990; 15(2): 127-34.
65. Tepper B, Williams T, Burgess J, Antalis C, Mattes R. Genetic variation in bitter taste and plasma markers of anti-oxidant status in college women. Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2009; 60 Suppl 2: 35-45.
66. Ames B, Profet M, Gold L. Dietary pesticides (99. 99% all natural). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1990; 87(19): 7777-81.
67. Drewnowski A, Gomez-Carneros C. Bitter taste, phytonutrients, and the consumer: a review. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000; 72(6): 1424-35.
68. Hollman PC, Katan MB. Dietary flavonoids: intake, health effects and bioavailability. Food Chem Toxicol. 1999; 37(9-10): 937-42.
69. Sandell MA, Breslin PA. Variability in a taste-receptor gene determines whether we taste toxins in food. Curr Biol. 2006; 16(18): R792-4.
70. Duffy V, Bartoshuk L. Food acceptance and genetic variation in taste. J Am Diet Assoc. 2000; 100(6): 647-55.
71. Tepper B. Nutritional implications of genetic taste variation: the role of PROP sensitivity and other taste phenotypes. Annu Rev Nutr. 2008; 28: 367-88.
72. Bell K, Tepper B. Short-term vegetable intake by young children classified by 6-n-propylthoiuracil bitter-taste phenotype. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006; 84(1): 245-51.
73. Negri R, Di Feola M, Di Domenico S, Scala MG, Artesi G, Valente S, Smarrazzo A, Turco F, Morini G, Greco L. Taste perception and food choices. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2012; 54(5): 624-9.
74. Basson M, Bartoshuk L, Dichello S, Panzini L, Weiffenbach J, Duffy V. Association between 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) bitterness and colonic neoplasms. Dig Dis Sci. 2005; 50(3): 483-9.
75. Bartoshuk LM. Bitter taste of saccharin related to the genetic ability to taste the bitter substance 6-n-propylthiouracil. Science. 1979; 205(4409): 934-5.
76. Sacerdote C, Guarrera S, Smith GD, Grioni S, Krogh V, Masala G, Mattiello A, Palli D, Panico S, Tumino R, et al. Lactase persistence and bitter taste response: instrumental variables and mendelian randomization in epidemiologic studies of dietary factors and cancer risk. Am J Epidemiol. 2007; 166(5): 576-81.
77. Colares-Bento FC, Souza VC, Toledo JO, Moraes CF, Alho CS, Lima RM, Cordova C, Nobrega OT. Implication of the G145C polymorphism (rs713598) of the TAS2r38 gene on food consumption by Brazilian older women. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2012; 54(2): e13-8.
78. Feeney E, O'Brien S, Scannell A, Markey A, Gibney ER. Genetic variation in taste perception: does it have a role in healthy eating? Proc Nutr Soc. 2011; 70(1): 135-43.
79. Riboli E, Norat T. Epidemiologic evidence of the protective effect of fruit and veges on cancer risk. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003; 78(3 Suppl): 559S-69S.
80. Duffy VB. Associations between oral sensation, dietary behaviors and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Appetite. 2004; 43(1): 5-9.
81. Goldstein GL, Daun H, Tepper BJ. Adiposity in middle-aged women is associated with genetic taste blindness to 6-n-propylthiouracil. Obes Res. 2005; 13(6): 1017-23.
82. Tepper BJ, Ullrich NV. Influence of genetic taste sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP), dietary restraint and disinhibition on body mass index in middle-aged women. Physiol Behav. 2002; 75(3): 305-12.
83. Tepper B. Does genetic taste sensitivity to PROP influence food preferences and body weight? Appetite. 1999; 32(3): 422.
84. Tepper B, Koelliker Y, Zhao L, Ullrich N, Lanzara C, d'Adamo P, Ferrara A, Ulivi S, Esposito L, Gasparini P. Variation in the bitter-taste receptor gene TAS2R38, and adiposity in a genetically isolated population in Southern Italy. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008; 16(10): 2289-95.
85. Drewnowski A, Henderson S, Cockroft J. Genetic sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil has no influence on dietary patterns, body mass indexes, or plasma lipid profiles of women. J Am Diet Assoc. 2007; 107(8): 1340-8.
86. Yackinous C, Guinard J. Relation between PROP (6-n-propylthiouracil) taster status, taste anatomy and dietary intake measures for young men and women. Appetite. 2002; 38(3): 201-9.
87. Eny KM, Wolever TM, Corey PN, El-Sohemy A. Genetic variation in TAS1R2 (Ile191Val) is associated with consumption of sugars in overweight and obese individuals in 2 distinct populations. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010; 92(6): 1501-10.
88. Bernstein I, Woods S. Ontogeny of cephalic insulin release by the rat. Physiol Behav. 1980; 24(3): 529-32.
89. Woods S, Bernstein I. Cephalic insulin response as a test for completeness of vagotomy to the pancreas. Physiol Behav. 1980; 24(3): 485-8.
90. Berthoud H, Trimble E, Siegel E, Bereiter D, Jeanrenaud B. Cephalic-phase insulin secretion in normal and pancreatic islet-transplanted rats. Am J Physiol. 1980; 238(4): E336-40.
91. Kokrashvili Z, Margolskee RF. Taste cells express and secrete glucagon-like peptide 1. Chemical Senses. 2009; 34(7): A77.
92. Teff K, Devine J, Engelman K. Sweet taste: effect on cephalic phase insulin release in men. Physiol Behav. 1995; 57(6): 1089-95.
93. Teff K. Cephalic phase pancreatic polypeptide responses to liquid and solid stimuli in humans. Physiol Behav. 2010; 99(3): 317-23.
94. Bartoshuk LM, Duffy VB, Hayes JE, Moskowitz HR, Snyder DJ. Psychophysics of sweet and fat perception in obesity: problems, solutions and new perspectives. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2006; 361(1471): 1137-48.
95. Drewnowski A, Brunzell J, Sande K, Iverius P, Greenwood M. Sweet tooth reconsidered: taste responsiveness in human obesity. Physiol Behav. 1985; 35(4): 617-22.
96. Salbe A, DelParigi A, Pratley R, Drewnowski A, Tataranni P. Taste preferences and body weight changes in an obesity-prone population. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004; 79(3): 372-8.
97. Chen L, Caballero B, Mitchell D, Loria C, Lin P, Champagne C, et al. Reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with reduced blood pressure. A prospective study among United States adults. Circulation 2010.
98. Malik VS, Popkin BM, Bray GA, Després JP, Willett WC, Hu FB. Sugar-sweetened beverages and risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis. Diabetes Care. 2010; 33(11): 2477-83.
99. Bachmanov AA, Bosak NP, Floriano WB, Inoue M, Li X, Lin C, et al. Genetics of sweet taste preferences. Flavour Fragr J. 2011; 26(4): 286-94.
100. Felsted JA, Ren X, Chouinard-Decorte F, Small DM. Genetically determined differences in brain response to a primary food reward. J Neurosci. 2010; 30(7): 2428-32.