Focus
Genetica del gusto e svezzamento
Genetics of taste and weaning
Antonietta Robino, Giulia Paviotti, Gabriele Cont
IRCCS Materno-Infantile “Burlo Garofolo”, Trieste
Gennaio 2020 - pagg. 20 -22
Abstract
Genetically mediated sensitivity to bitter taste has been associated with food preferences
and eating behaviour in children. Recently, a study also revealed a possible link between
TAS2R38 bitter taste gene and the first complementary food acceptance. In this study,
TAS2R38 genotypes were determined in 131 healthy, breastfed, term-born infants. Parents
were instructed to feed their baby with a first complementary meal of 150 ml at 4 to
6 months of age. Additional data, such as food composition, breastfeeding duration,
feeding practices and growth at 6 months were collected. Findings of this study showed
that infants insensitive to bitter taste (defined by the TAS2R38 genotype AVI/AVI) compared
to sensitive ones (either AVI/PAV or PAV/PAV genotypes) were more likely to consume
the whole first complementary food meal at first attempt. Moreover, bitter-insensitive
infants consumed the whole volume of the first complementary food in fewer days than
bitter-sensitive ones. In conclusion, differences in TAS2R38 bitter taste gene were associated
with acceptance of first complementary food in infants that for the first time suggested
a possible involvement of genes responsible for taste perception in eating behaviour
at weaning.
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Corrispondenza: antonietta.robino@burlo.trieste.it