and Methylation Associates with Orosensory Detection Thresholds for Fat and Bitter in Algerian Young Obese Children.

BACKGROUND

The spontaneous preference for dietary fat is regulated by two lingual lipid sensors ( and ) in humans and rodents. Our objective was to investigate whether obesity in children is associated with methylation of lipid sensor genes, and whether this alteration was implicated in altered gustatory perception of fat and bitter and increased preference of palatable foods.

METHODS

School children were recruited and classified according to their body mass index (BMI) -score into two groups: obese and lean children. The detection of orosensory perception for oleic acid and 6--propylthiouracil was assessed by using a 3-alternative forced-choice test. After blood DNA extraction, methylation patterns were investigated by methylation-specific PCR. The children were also subjected to a food habit questionnaire.

RESULTS

Obese children showed higher lipid and bitter detection thresholds than lean children. Besides, more obese children presented higher methylation level of the CpG sites than lean participants. Interestingly, and gene methylation was associated with high lipid detection thresholds in obese participants. The obese participants preferred highly palatable fat-rich food items, associated with and gene methylation.

CONCLUSION

Epigenetic changes in and genes might contribute to low orosensory perception of fat and bitter taste, and might be, consequently, critically involved in obesity in children.