Genetic and physiological influences on sweet taste preference among young adults in Malaysia: Associations with TAS1R2/TAS1R3 variants, body composition, and food liking and intake frequency

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between sweet taste preference, TAS1R2/TAS1R3 gene variants (rs35874116 and rs307055), body composition, and food liking/intake frequency among 173 participants in Malaysia (87 males; median age 21 ± 2 years; median BMI 21.800 ± 5.050 kg/m²). Sweet liking was assessed using a Forced-Choice Paired-Comparison task with five increasing sucrose concentrations, along with intensity perception and pleasantness rating of a 36 % sucrose solution. Anthropometric and body composition measurements, as well as food liking and intake frequency data, were collected. Genotyping of TAS1R2/TAS1R3 variants was conducted using real-time allele-specific PCR. Males exhibited a significantly greater preference for higher sucrose concentrations (p = 0.024) and greater liking for 36 % sucrose (p = 0.020) than females. Higher total body fat was positively associated with greater liking for 36 % sucrose solution (p = 0.014). The rs35874116 C allele was more prevalent among low and medium sweet likers and less frequent among high sweet likers (p = 0.028). This allele was also associated with lower liquor preference (p = 0.012) and higher fruit preference (p = 0.013). The CC genotype of rs35874116 was associated with a lower prevalence of overweight/obese (p = 0.028). In contrast, the rs307055 T allele was associated with higher central adiposity, as indicated by increased waist circumference (p = 0.005) and waist-hip ratio (p = 0.004). High sweet likers showed a greater processed food preference (p = 0.049) and a lower fruit intake frequency (p = 0.012) compared to low sweet likers. In conclusion, sweet taste preference in this Malaysian sample is influenced by sex, body composition, and rs35874116/rs307055 gene variants, which might also play a role in influencing food liking and intake patterns.