Table 2.
Overview of genetic association studies related to sweet taste preferences.
| Gene | SNP | Applied tastant/method | Number of studies with confirmed association | Findings | Reference | Number of studies with no association | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAS1R2 | rs3935570 | Sucrose, sugar intake (FFQ) | 1 | GG or GT vs. TT had significantly higher detection thresholds [and lower suprathreshold sensitivity ratings (iAUC)] but only in individuals with BMI ≥ 25. (No effect on sugar consumption.) | (Dias et al., 2015) | 0 | – |
| TAS1R2 | rs12033832 | Sucrose, sugar intake (FFQ) | 1 | Individuals with a BMI ≥ 25: G allele carriers had significantly higher detection and lower suprathreshold sensitivity ratings (iAUC), higher intake of total sugars, sucrose, fructose, and glucose. Individuals with a BMI <25: significantly lower detection thresholds and no effect on suprathreshold taste, lower intake of total sugars, sucrose, fructose, glucose, and lactose | (Dias et al., 2015) | 2 | (Fushan et al., 2009; Han et al., 2017) |
| TAS1R2 | rs35874116 | Intake of sweet food (three factor eating questionnaire) | 2 | CC and CT vs. TT associated with higher intake of sweet foods. Overweight Val carriers consumed less sugars, sucrose, fructose, and glucose than Ile homozygotes. | (Eny et al., 2010; Han et al., 2017) | 0 | – |
| TAS1R3 | rs307355 | Sucrose | 1 | Strong association with decreased sucrose AUC scores (reduced taste sensitivity to sucrose associated with T alleles) | (Fushan et al., 2009) | 1 | (Han et al., 2017) |
| TAS1R3 | rs35744813 | Sucrose | 2 | Strong association with decreased sucrose AUC scores (reduced taste sensitivity to sucrose associated with T alleles). Adults with no T alleles preferred a lower concentration of sucrose than did those with one or two T alleles (no association in children). | (Fushan et al., 2009; Mennella et al., 2014b) | 2 | (Joseph et al., 2016; Han et al., 2017) |
| TAS2R38 | rs713598 | Intake of sweet tasting foods (3-day, weighed dietary records, test meal) | 2 | The PP/PA genotype was associated with a higher intake of (energy dense) sweet tasting foods in children. AP or PP children consumed more chocolate chip cookies at the test-meal than children who had the AA genotype. | (Keller et al., 2014; Pawellek et al., 2016) | 0 | – |
| TAS2R38 | rs713598 | Sucrose, food preference questionnaire | 3 | PP children preferred higher concentrations of sucrose in water and beverages containing more sugar than AA children (AP intermediate preference). GG subjects did not prefer sweet foods (dessert and chocolate). P allele more common in children with lower sucrose thresholds | (Lipchock et al., 2012; Joseph et al., 2016; Perna et al., 2018) | 1 | (Ooi et al., 2010) |
| TAS2R38 | rs1726866 | Sucrose | 1 | Children with one or two bitter-sensitive A alleles had lower detection thresholds (more sensitive to the taste of sucrose). | (Joseph et al., 2016) | 1 | (Timpson et al., 2007) (AceK sweetness) |
| TAS2R38 | rs10246939 | Sucrose | 1 | Children with one or two bitter-sensitive V alleles had lower detection thresholds (more sensitive to the taste of sucrose). | (Joseph et al., 2016) | 0 | – |
| TAS2R38 | A49P (rs713598), A262V (rs1726866), V296I (rs10246939) | Berry products liking | 1 | Majority of PAV/PAV and PAV/AVI children, liked the sweetened, dried bilberries with rather high sugar content. | (Suomela et al., 2012) | 0 | – |
| TAS2R38 | A49P (rs713598), A262V (rs1726866), V296I (rs10246939) | Sweet food intake (FFQ) | 1 | PAV homozygotic individuals consumed more sweet foods than did the AVI homozygotic subjects. | (Sandell et al., 2014) | 0 | – |
FFQ, food frequency questionnaire; BMI, body mass index; AUC, area under the curve; AceK, acesulfame potassium; iAUC, incremental area under the curve.
Individual ratings of the intensity of suprathreshold solutions were plotted, and the incremental area under the taste sensitivity curve (iAUC) was computed.