Genetic differences are related to sweetness

A new study in Physiological Genomics found that people with specific genetic differences will consume more sugary foods. The study provides the first evidence of the role of the difference in the GLUT2 gene (a gene that controls the amount of sugar introduced into cells) obtained in sugar intake. Research can also help explain the goodness of high sugar foods.

The study was conducted by Ahmed El-Sohemy, Karen M. Eny, Thomas MS Wolever and Benedicte Fontaine-Bisson of the Department of Nutrition Science, University of Toronto, Toronto and Cannada.

Research summary

Appetite is influenced by the environment as well as genetics. The sweetness is different from person to person, but it still doesn't explain the cause. To get a better understanding of the mechanism, the team examined the effect of a general difference in a sugar-control gene (glucose) introduced into cells. This gene is called glucose transporter type 2 or GLUT2 gene.

The researchers examined the effects of genetic differences in two separate target populations. The first population includes older people, all of whom are overweight or obese. The second population consists of young adults who have normal health and most are thin people.

The diet of the study participants in the first population was assessed by recording all the amount of food and drinks they consumed during a three-day period, and repeating the recording. for three days of eating and drinking two weeks later to ensure that influence can be generated. All participants were interviewed directly during the study twice in the research centers. For the second population, the study participants answered the questionnaire about the typical consumption of food and drinks over a period of one month.

Each participant was given blood and DNA samples. The researchers examined genetic distribution and compared the amount of food consumed by each participant between people who were different and those who had no differences in GLUT2 genes. DNA samples bearing differences in GLUT2 were associated with higher sugar consumption in both studied populations.

Results found

The results of the study show that gene differences in GLUT2 are related to differences in sugar consumption habits in both individual populations, namely:

- People with differences in GLUT2 genes regardless of age and gender consume more sugar (sugar cane (sand sugar)), fructose (a simple sugar such as corn sugar) and glucose (carbohydrates) .

- Two tables of data recorded from the elderly group show that older people have more sugar consumption differences than those of the same age have no difference (112 ± 9 compared to 86 ± 4 daily sugar and 111 ± 8 compared to 82 ± 4 grams per day.

- People in the young adult group found differences in consumption of more sweet drinks (0.49 ± 0.05 compared to 0.34 ± 0.02 daily intake), and more sweeteners (1.45 ± 0.10 compared to at 1.08 ± 0.05 per day) people in the same group did not attend that difference.

- There is no difference in the amount of protein, fat, starch or alcohol consumed in people with or without genetic differences.

Conclude

According to Dr. El-Sohemy, lead researcher of the study, 'We have found that the difference in GLUT2 gene is related to the amount of high sugar absorption among different human populations. These findings may help explain some of the individual differences in sweetness. The most special thing is that it gives rise to obesity and diabetes around the world. "

The study was funded by the research center of Advanced Food and Materials Network (AFMNet) and the Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

* The study, titled Genetic Differences in the Glucose Type 2 transporter gene (GLUT2), is related to high levels of sugar uptake in two distinct human populations, published in the month's Physiological Genomics. 5, 2008. (http://physiolgenomics.physiology.org/).