Article
Influence of genetic variants of the bitter-taste receptor gene TAS2R38 on the acceptance of hydrolysed infant formula during the first four months of life
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Published: | September 6, 2007 |
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Background: Several studies have analysed the association between the ability to taste bitter compounds and the acceptance of foods. Recent identification of bitter-taste receptor genes offered new possibilities to study the genetic influence. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyse the association between genetic variants in the bitter-taste receptor gene TAS2R38 on the acceptance of (bitter tasting) hydrolysed infant formula during the first four months of life.
Materials and Methods: Three single nucleotide polymorphisms coding for A49P, V262A and I296V in the bitter-taste receptor gene TAS2R38 were genotyped in a total of 1845 children from the German Infant Nutritional Intervention (GINI) Programme (n=961) and the observational arm of the study (n=884). Children were classified as tasters and nontasters according to their haplotype combination. The effect of taster status on the acceptance of hydrolysed infant formula will be analysed with multiple logistic regression models.
Results: Acceptance of hydrolysed infant formula will be compared between tasters and nontasters in each randomised group of the interventional cohort (conventional cow's milk formula, partially hydrolysed whey formula, extensively hydrolysed whey formula, extensively hydrolysed casein formula) and in addition in infants being fed with hydrolysed formula in the observational cohort.
Discussion: The results of the study will show whether genetic variants of the bitter-taste receptor gene TAS2R38 are associated with the acceptance of bitter tasting hydrolysed infant formula. The analyses will be completed in September 2007.