Department of Medical and Translational Sciences, Section of Child Psychiatry, University of Federico II Naples, Italy.
Department of Medical and Translational Sciences, Section of Pediatrics, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Autism Res. 2018 Mar;11(3):531-538. doi: 10.1002/aur.1912. Epub 2017 Dec 28.
Several studies suggest that atypical eating behaviors, in particular food selectivity, are more frequent in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A link between bitter taste perception, namely PROP/PTC sensitivity and food preferences is known in healthy children. The aim of this study is to investigate whether genetic variants of the TAS2R38 taste receptor responsible for different bitter sensitivity could affect foods preferences and consequently food refusal in ASD children. We recruited 43 children with ASD and 41 with normotypic development (TD) with or without food selectivity, aged between 2 and 11 years. Children were characterized for bitter sensitivity by means of PROP strips and FACS analysis and genotyped for TAS2R38 polymorphisms. Food selectivity was assessed by a validated food preference questionnaire filled by parents. A statistically significant correlation between PROP sensitivity and food refusal was observed. Furthermore, a prevalence of the PAV-sensitive haplotype compared to the AVI-insensitive one was seen in ASD children with food selectivity. In agreement with the initial hypothesis the results show that food refusal in ASD children is mediated by bitter taste sensitivity thus suggesting that the bitter sensitivity test may be used as a device to orientate tailored food proposals for the practical management of food selectivity in ASD. Autism Res 2018, 11: 531-538. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A variation of the gene TAS2R38, associated with bitter taste sensitivity, can cause a different perception of some foods. In particular, some children are hypersensitive to bitterness and show a more restricted repertoire of accepted foods. We evaluate bitter sensitivity in ASD children with or without food selectivity, through a simple bitter taste test with edible strips. The results show that food refusal in ASD children can be mediated by bitter taste sensitivity thus suggesting that the bitter sensitivity test may be used as a device to orientate tailored food proposals for the practical management of food selectivity in ASD.
几项研究表明，非典型的进食行为，特别是食物选择性，在自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）儿童中更为常见。健康儿童的苦味感知，即 PROP/PTC 敏感性和食物偏好之间存在联系。本研究旨在调查负责不同苦味敏感性的味觉受体 TAS2R38 的遗传变异是否会影响 ASD 儿童的食物偏好，进而影响食物拒绝。我们招募了 43 名 ASD 儿童和 41 名具有正常发育（TD）的儿童，他们有无食物选择性，年龄在 2 至 11 岁之间。通过 PROP 条和 FACS 分析对儿童的苦味敏感性进行特征分析，并对 TAS2R38 多态性进行基因分型。通过父母填写的经过验证的食物偏好问卷评估食物选择性。观察到 PROP 敏感性与食物拒绝之间存在显著相关性。此外，在有食物选择性的 ASD 儿童中，与 AVI 不敏感相比，PAV 敏感单倍型的患病率更高。与最初的假设一致，结果表明 ASD 儿童的食物拒绝受苦味敏感性的影响，因此，苦味敏感性测试可以用作指导针对 ASD 患者食物选择性的实际管理的针对性食物建议的工具。自闭症研究 2018，11：531-538。©2017 自闭症国际研究协会，威利期刊，公司。
TAS2R38 基因的变异与苦味敏感性有关，可能导致某些食物的感知不同。特别是，一些儿童对苦味过于敏感，表现出接受食物的范围更有限。我们通过食用条带进行简单的苦味测试，评估有或没有食物选择性的 ASD 儿童的苦味敏感性。结果表明，ASD 儿童的食物拒绝可以通过苦味敏感性来介导，因此，苦味敏感性测试可以用作指导针对 ASD 患者食物选择性的实际管理的针对性食物建议的工具。
