Food Preference Patterns in a UK Twin Cohort

Abstract

Food liking-disliking patterns may strongly influence food choices and health. Here we assess: (1) whether food preference patterns are genetic/environmentally driven; and (2) the relationship between metabolomics profiles and food preference patterns in a large population of twins. 2,107 individuals from TwinsUK completed an online food and lifestyle preference questionnaire. Principle components analysis was undertaken to identify patterns of food liking-disliking. Heritability estimates for each liking pattern were obtained by structural equation modeling. The correlation between blood metabolomics profiles (280 metabolites) and each food liking pattern was assessed in a subset of 1,491 individuals and replicated in an independent subset of monozygotic twin pairs discordant for the liking pattern (65 to 88 pairs). Results from both analyses were meta-analyzed. , indicating genetic factors influence food liking-disliking. Overall, we identified 14 significant metabolite associations (Bonferroni p < 4.5 × 10 -5 ) with Distinctive Tastes (8 metabolites), Sweet and High Carbohydrate (3 metabolites), and Meat (3 metabolites). Food preferences follow patterns based on similar taste and nutrient characteristics and these groupings are strongly determined by genetics. Food preferences that are strongly genetically determined (h 2 ࣙ 0.40), such as for meat and distinctive-tasting foods, may influence intakes more substantially, as demonstrated by the metabolomic associations identified here.

Pediatric Adapted Liking Survey: A Novel, Feasible and Reliable Dietary Screening in Clinical Practice

“…Survey-reported preferences for foods/beverages can serve as proxy of usual intake as supported by its correlation with biomarkers of nutritional status [Pallister et al, 2015;Sharafi et al, 2015Sharafi et al, , 2016. Assessing preference is cognitively easier than recalling behavior [Johnson, 1983] required of dietary assessment/screening tools.…”

“…Alternatively, asking about food/beverage preference is cognitively simpler, quicker and often less biased. Reported food preference correlates with reported intake [Lanfer et al, 2012;Sharafi et al, 2015;Tuorila et al, 2008] and biomarkers of dietary intake and/or adiposity in children and adults [Pallister et al, 2015;Sharafi et al, 2016]. Elevated preference for sweet foods is observed among children who have greater adiposity [Lanfer et al, 2012] and caries [Maciel et al, 2001].…”

Sensory determinants of stated liking for vegetable names and actual liking for canned vegetables: A cross-country study among European adolescents

“…Genetic variation in sensitivity to bitter taste of thioureas and related compounds (PROP taster status) has been associated with children lower acceptance of bitter-tasting vegetables (Bell & Tepper, 2006). Studies on twin population showed a moderate heritability of fruit and vegetable preference (Pallister et al, 2015) and genes regulating sour taste perception has been hypothesized to be relevant in the acceptability of naturally sour products such as fruits, berries and vegetables (Törnwall, Silventoinen, Hiekkalinna, Perola, Tuorila and Kaprio, 2014).…”

Lessons on dietary biomarkers from twin studies

“…Studies from TwinsUK have successfully identified potential biomarkers of alcohol intake (28) including lysophosphatidylcholines, diethyl ether lipids, diaclylphosphatidycholines and sphingolipids, as well as biomarkers of self-reported dietary patterns (22) , food preference patterns (9) and self-reported food intakes (29,30) . Taking advantage of the twin nature of the TwinsUK data, we first looked for association in the larger twin population excluding MZ twins discordant for a nutritional intake.…”

“…Specific foods intakes, including garlic (46 %), fruit and vegetables (49 %), and coffee (41 %) are also highly heritable in adults (8) . A recent study from our group identified four major food-liking patterns (fruit and vegetables, distinctive tastes, sweet and high carbohydrate, and meat) accounting for 26 % of the total variance with heritability estimates ranging from 36 to 58 % indicating genetic factors influence food liking-disliking (9) . Besides estimating heritability of dietary assessment, using MZ twins discordant for dietary factor/nutrition status provides a naturally unique case-controlled experiment of assessing the links between diet and human biology.…”