Inherited differences in human's ability to taste bitter thiourea compounds, specifically phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) and 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP), have been studied since 1931. 70% of adults and children in the U.S. are """"""""tasters"""""""" of these compounds and 30% are """"""""non-tasters."""""""" Researchers have found that tasters and non-tasters differ in their food preferences, selection, and body weights. However, unanswered questions remain, particularly about the relationship between taste and obesity in children. This year (2003) marked the discovery of the gene responsible for the ability to taste PTC, and with this discovery, many of the previously unanswered questions can now be given empirical attention. The long-term goals of this research are 1) to characterize the relationship between taste and food intake, 2) to determine if associations between taste and body weight in children will track into adulthood, 3) to elucidate the behavioral mechanisms of positive energy balance in PROP non-tasters, and 4) to determine the associations between PTC haplotypes, mechanisms of positive energy balance, and body composition in children. The general hypotheses behind this work are: 1) genes influence taste perception, 2) changes in taste perception influence both response to and selection of energy density within a single meal, and 3) sustained, uncompensated, changes in energy density in the diet ultimately alter body weight. To test these hypotheses, we propose a two part study. Part I will test 75,4-6 y. old children, half boys and half girls. In part I, we will validate a novel training protocol that can be used to classify children's ability to taste PROP. In Part II, we propose to test 120,4-6 y. old boys and girls, to test the hypothesis that PROP non-tasters select higher energy dense foods, eat more when exposed to higher energy dense meals, and have higher body weights and levels of body fat. The long-term goal of this work is to train the candidate to become an independent investigator who will compete for future award programs (e.g., R01s, R03s) .

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01DK068008-05
Application #
7634446
Study Section
Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases B Subcommittee (DDK)
Program Officer
Podskalny, Judith M,
Project Start
2005-08-05
Project End
2010-12-30
Budget Start
2009-07-01
Budget End
2010-12-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$126,407
Indirect Cost
Name
St. Luke's-Roosevelt Institute for Health Sciences
Department
Type
DUNS #
623216371
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10019
Fearnbach, S Nicole; Thivel, David; Meyermann, Karol et al. (2015) Intake at a single, palatable buffet test meal is associated with total body fat and regional fat distribution in children. Appetite 92:233-9
Keller, Kathleen L; Olsen, Annemarie; Cravener, Terri L et al. (2014) Bitter taste phenotype and body weight predict children's selection of sweet and savory foods at a palatable test-meal. Appetite 77:113-21
Keller, Kathleen L; Olsen, Annemarie; Kuilema, Laura et al. (2013) Predictors of parental perceptions and concerns about child weight. Appetite 62:96-102
Burd, Carlye; Senerat, Araliya; Chambers, Earle et al. (2013) PROP taster status interacts with the built environment to influence children's food acceptance and body weight status. Obesity (Silver Spring) 21:786-94
Keller, Kathleen L (2012) Genetic influences on oral fat perception and preference: Presented at the symposium ""The Taste for Fat: New Discoveries on the Role of Fat in Sensory Perception, Metabolism, Sensory Pleasure and Beyond"" held at the Institute of Food Technologists 2011 J Food Sci 77:S143-7
Keller, Kathleen L; Liang, Lisa C H; Sakimura, Johannah et al. (2012) Common variants in the CD36 gene are associated with oral fat perception, fat preferences, and obesity in African Americans. Obesity (Silver Spring) 20:1066-73
Lee, Heewon; Keller, Kathleen L (2012) Children who are pressured to eat at home consume fewer high-fat foods in laboratory test meals. J Acad Nutr Diet 112:271-5
Keller, Kathleen L; Kuilema, Laura G; Lee, Norman et al. (2012) The impact of food branding on children's eating behavior and obesity. Physiol Behav 106:379-86
Liang, Lisa C H; Sakimura, Johannah; May, Daniel et al. (2012) Fat discrimination: a phenotype with potential implications for studying fat intake behaviors and obesity. Physiol Behav 105:470-5
Olsen, Annemarie; van Belle, Christopher; Meyermann, Karol et al. (2011) Manipulating fat content of familiar foods at test-meals does not affect intake and liking of these foods among children. Appetite 57:573-7

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