title: Variation in the TAS2R31 bitter taste receptor gene relates to liking for the nonnutritive sweetener Acesulfame-K among children and adults.
abstract: The nonnutritive sweetener (NNS) acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) elicits a bitter off-taste that varies among adults due to polymorphisms in a bitter taste receptor gene. Whether polymorphisms affect liking for Ace-K by children, who live in different sensory worlds, is unknown. We examined hedonic response to Ace-K among children compared to adults, and whether response was related to common variants of the TAS2R31 bitter taste receptor gene and to NNS intake. Children (N = 48) and their mothers (N = 34) rated liking of Ace-K, and mothers reported whether they or their children ever consume NNSs via questionnaire. Participants were genotyped for TAS2R31 variant sites associated with adult perception of Ace-K (R35W, L162M, A227V, and V240I). Regardless of age, more participants with 1 or no copies than with 2 copies of the TAS2R31 WMVI haplotype liked Ace-K (p = 0.01). NNS-sweetened products were consumed by 50% and 15% of mothers and children, respectively, with no association between intake and TAS2R31. The TAS2R31 WMVI haplotype was partly responsible for children's hedonic response to Ace-K, highlighting a potential role for inborn differences in vulnerability to overconsumption of Ace-K-containing products. Currently available methods to measure NNS intake yield crude estimates at best, suggesting self-reports are not reflective of actual intake.
authors.affiliation: Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3308, USA.
authors.forename: Nuala
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bobowski
authors.affiliation: Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3308, USA.
authors.forename: Danielle R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.affiliation: Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3308, USA.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mennella
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013649:Taste / Q000235:genetics*; D013843:Thiazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000098706:Taste Receptors, Type 2
chemical_list: D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D013843:Thiazines; D000098706:Taste Receptors, Type 2; C006362:acetosulfame