title: Food Preference Patterns in a UK Twin Cohort.
abstract: Food liking-disliking patterns may strongly influence food choices and health. Here we assess: (1) whether food preference patterns are genetic/environmentally driven; and (2) the relationship between metabolomics profiles and food preference patterns in a large population of twins. 2,107 individuals from TwinsUK completed an online food and lifestyle preference questionnaire. Principle components analysis was undertaken to identify patterns of food liking-disliking. Heritability estimates for each liking pattern were obtained by structural equation modeling. The correlation between blood metabolomics profiles (280 metabolites) and each food liking pattern was assessed in a subset of 1,491 individuals and replicated in an independent subset of monozygotic twin pairs discordant for the liking pattern (65 to 88 pairs). Results from both analyses were meta-analyzed. Four major food-liking patterns were identified (Fruit and Vegetable, Distinctive Tastes, Sweet and High Carbohydrate, and Meat) accounting for 26% of the total variance. All patterns were moderately heritable (Fruit and Vegetable, h(2)[95% CI]: 0.36 [0.28; 0.44]; Distinctive Tastes: 0.58 [0.52; 0.64]; Sweet and High Carbohydrate: 0.52 [0.45, 0.59] and Meat: 0.44 [0.35; 0.51]), indicating genetic factors influence food liking-disliking. Overall, we identified 14 significant metabolite associations (Bonferroni p < 4.5 × 10(-5)) with Distinctive Tastes (8 metabolites), Sweet and High Carbohydrate (3 metabolites), and Meat (3 metabolites). Food preferences follow patterns based on similar taste and nutrient characteristics and these groupings are strongly determined by genetics. Food preferences that are strongly genetically determined (h(2) ≥ 0.40), such as for meat and distinctive-tasting foods, may influence intakes more substantially, as demonstrated by the metabolomic associations identified here.
authors.affiliation: Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology,King's College London,London,UK.
authors.forename: Tess
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pallister
authors.affiliation: Department of Allied Health Sciences,College of Agriculture and Natural Resources,University of Connecticut,Storrs,CT,USA.
authors.forename: Mastaneh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharafi
authors.affiliation: Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology,King's College London,London,UK.
authors.forename: Genevieve
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lachance
authors.affiliation: Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS 'Burlo Garofolo',Trieste,Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pirastu
authors.affiliation: Metabolon Inc.,Durham,North Carolina,USA.
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Mohney
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition,Norwich Medical School,University of East Anglia,Norwich,UK.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: MacGregor
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Nutrition,Wageningen University,Wageningen,the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Edith J M
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Feskens
authors.affiliation: Department of Allied Health Sciences,College of Agriculture and Natural Resources,University of Connecticut,Storrs,CT,USA.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.affiliation: Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology,King's College London,London,UK.
authors.forename: Tim D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Spector
authors.affiliation: Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology,King's College London,London,UK.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Menni
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055432:Metabolomics; D008875:Middle Aged; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: food preference; heritability; metabolomics; twins