Taste impairment in obese children: genetic aspects of reception

Background. Numerous single nucleotide variants (SNV) of the taste 2 receptor member 38 (TAS2R38) gene determine the formation of individual characteristics of bitter taste perception. The аim: to study the association of SNV rs10246939, rs1726866, rs713598 of the TAS2R38 gene with the risk of metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) in children. Materials and methods. Four hundred children aged 6–18 years were examined, of which 350 with obesity were treated. The control group was represented by 50 children without obesity. Among obese children, two observation subgroups were formed: MUO (n = 204) and metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) (n = 146). The level of taste preferences was determined by the FBPQ. The level of basal glycemia, insulinemia was studied by immunochemical method with electro chemiluminescent detection, high-density lipoproteins and triglycerides — by enzymatic-colorimetric method in the Synevo (Ukraine). SNVs of the TAS2R38 gene were identified by whole-genome next-generation sequencing in 52 patients at the CeGat laboratory (Germany). Results. The mean levels (M ± m) of taste preferences in the comparison groups according to the FBPQ were significantly different for sweet (in obese children — (3.36 ± 0.08) points, while in the control group (3.74 ± 0.07) points, p < 0.002) and bitter tastes (in obese children it was (2.77 ± 0.15) points, while in the control group (3.37 ± 0.15) points, p < 0.00013). The mean levels of taste preferences in children with MUO compared to those with MHO were significantly different for bitter tastes — (2.75 ± 0.12) points versus (3.24 ± 0.05) points, respectively, p < 0.02. We identified four SNVs in the TAS2R38 gene: rs713598, rs1726866, rs10246939, rs145970530. Conclusions. CG genotype of rs713598 in the TAS2R38 gene is associated with an increased risk of developing MUO and cardiometabolic disorders.