Modulation of Food Intake by Differential TAS2R Stimulation in Rat.

Metabolic surgery modulates the enterohormone profile, which leads, among other effects, to changes in food intake. Bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) have been identified in the gastrointestinal tract and specific stimulation of these has been linked to the control of ghrelin secretion. We hypothesize that optimal stimulation of TAS2Rs could help to modulate enteroendocrine secretions and thus regulate food intake. To determine this, we have assayed the response to specific agonists for hTAS2R5, hTAS2R14 and hTAS2R39 on enteroendocrine secretions from intestinal segments and food intake in rats. We found that hTAS2R5 agonists stimulate glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and cholecystokinin (CCK), and reduce food intake. hTAS2R14 agonists induce GLP1, while hTASR39 agonists tend to increase peptide YY (PYY) but fail to reduce food intake. The effect of simultaneously activating several receptors is heterogeneous depending on the relative affinity of the agonists for each receptor. Although detailed mechanisms are not clear, bitter compounds can stimulate differentially enteroendocrine secretions that modulate food intake in rats.

Polymorphism of TAS2R3, TAS2R5, TAS2R19, and TAS2R50 genes and bitter food intake frequency inelderly woman.

BACKGROUND: Taste sensitivity is one of the most important biological determinants of food choice. Polymorphisms within the bitter taste receptor genes TAS2R3 (rs765007), TAS2R5 (rs2234012), TAS2R19 (rs10772420), and TAS2R50 (rs1376251) may affect bitter taste sensitivity and thus food choices and thereby metabolic biomarkers in blood. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between selected TAS2Rs  single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the choice of the most popular bitter food items in    a Polish population, BMI and blood biomarkers in elderly women. METHODS: The study group included 116 Polish women over 60 years of age. Intake of Brassica vegetables, grapefruit and coffee was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Biochemical parameters were measured using the spectrophotometric method. Genotyping was performed using the high resolution melting method. RESULTS: We show an association between SNPs of the TAS2R3 gene and the frequency of Brassica vegetable intake, between SNPs of the TAS2R5 gene and the frequency of grapefruit intake, and between the simultaneous effects of polymorphisms within TAS2R3 and TAS2R5 and the frequency of eating Brassica vegetables in general. We found no association between the genetic polymorphisms of TAS2R19 or TAS2R50 that were examined and the frequency of bitter-tasting food intake. Moreover, the SNPs of the selected TAS2Rs genes may be associated with the lipid profile, serum level of glucose and CRP, depending on the frequency of consumption of particular bitter-tasting items. CONCLUSIONS: The genetic polymorphisms analyzed in the study seem not to contribute significantly to variability in bitter-tasting food intake in elderly women, although they may influence metabolic biomarkers dependent on the intake of particular bitter-tasting food items.