From Taste Perception to Metabolic Regulation: Associations Among Taste Sensitivity, Taste- and Metabolic Trait-Related Genes, Body Composition and Lipid Mediator Signaling in a Human Explanatory Study

Background/Objectives: Taste sensitivity has been associated with body mass index (BMI) independently of dietary intake, suggesting that taste-related pathways may influence metabolic health beyond food consumption. However, the mechanisms underlying these associations remain unclear. We investigated relationships among taste-related and metabolically relevant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), body composition, red blood cell (RBC) total lipids, fatty acids (FAs), and lipid mediators to identify potential associations between taste perception and metabolic phenotype. Methods: Body composition, RBC total lipids, FAs, and N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) were assessed in 52 healthy subjects genotyped for selected SNPs in taste-related genes (TAS1R2, TAS1R3, GNAT3, CD36), and genes involved in nutrient-sensing NAE metabolism (FGF21, FAAH and PPARα). The associations were evaluated using explanatory univariate analyses and regression models. Results: Carriers of the GNAT3 rs7792845 CC genotype showed a lower mean fat-free mass percentage and higher RBC total lipids than carriers of the CT genotype. CD36 rs1761667 and rs1984112 were associated with NAE lipid mediators and rs1761667 with RBC total lipids, with AA genotype carriers showing higher mean values. Regression analyses identified GNAT3 rs7792845, FGF21 rs838133, and taste-sensitivity scores associated with body composition, accounting for 41.5% of the variance, and CD36 rs1761667 and rs1984112 associated with lipid and NAE values, accounting for up to 38.1% of the variance. FAAH rs324420 and TAS1R2 rs35874116 were involved in RBG lipid and NAE models. The specific lipid species underlying these associations remain unknown. Conclusions: These findings suggest that sensory- and nutrient-sensing pathways might contribute to interindividual variability in metabolic phenotypes.