When it comes to food cravings, some of us lean towards ice cream while others prefer something savory. It can be hard to understand how people have different tastes when it comes to food. How can anyone not enjoy chocolate?
A recent study may provide some answers. It appears that individuals who have an aversion to sweet foods may have a genetic anomaly in their DNA that makes it challenging for them to digest sucrose (sugar).
Genetic issues with sucrose digestion are commonly linked to irritable bowel syndrome. However, a new study featured in the journal Gastroenterology suggests that defects in the sucrase-isomaltase (SI) gene could also impact how much we enjoy sweet treats.
To investigate further, a team of researchers from the University of Nottingham conducted studies on mice lacking the SI gene. They discovered that these mice had a decreased preference for sucrose consumption.
The researchers then expanded their study to include humans, analyzing data from 6,000 individuals in Greenland and approximately 135,000 individuals in the UK from the UK Biobank. Their findings showed that Greenlandic participants with a completely non-functional SI gene consumed more sugar compared to those with a functioning gene. This pattern was also observed in the UK, where individuals with a partially functioning SI gene showed a lower inclination towards sweet foods.
If you are not a fan of sweet treats, could it be due to a genetic issue? Not necessarily.
“If you have a dislike for sweet foods, it may be linked to reduced SI function, but other factors with bigger impacts are likely contributing to your preference for less sweet foods,” said Dr. Mette Andersen, a co-author of the study and assistant professor at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, as reported by BBC Science Focus.
Excessive sugar consumption is a significant factor in the rise of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Researchers involved in the study believe that targeting the SI gene with new medications to enhance digestive health could potentially help reduce sugar intake.
About our experts
Dr. Mette Andersen is an assistant professor at the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com
