Investigating perception and liking of non-nutritive sweeteners in individuals representing different taste receptor genotypes

Abstract

This study investigates whether variations in taste receptor genotypes account for differences in perception and liking of the non-nutritive sweeteners sucralose and Rebaudioside A (RebA). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of sweet taste re-ceptor subunits TAS1R2 and TAS1R3 (8 SNPs), bitter taste receptors TAS2R4 and TAS2R14 (2 SNPs), and carbonic anhydrase 6 (CA6, GUSTIN) were studied. Consumer liking and perception of apple beverages varying in sucralose or RebA concentration were measured. Of the sweet receptor SNPs, TAS1R2 rs12137730 had a significant effect on sweet perception of sucralose beverages. No sweet taste receptor SNPs had any significant effect on liking. The bitter taste receptor SNP TAS2R4 rs2234001, how-ever, significantly affected bitter perception of stevia beverages; the more bitter sensitive consumers, homozygous for the GG allele, liked the RebA-sweetened drinks substantially but not significantly less than the homozygous CC group.