Sweet tooth? Blame your genes

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People with the GLUT2 variant may have impaired sensitivity to sugar.

A gene variation could be to blame for sweet tooth cravings, scientists have discovered.

A difference in the gene called glucose transporter type two or, more aptly, GLUT2, may drive cravings for foods high in sugar, report researchers from the University of Toronto, Canada.

The gene controls the entry of glucose molecules into the cells, and a specific variation appears to link to the habitual consumption of sugar.

Senior investigator Ahmed El-Sohemy, of the Department of Nutritional Sciences, said the study could help address diabetes and obesity.

"We think the one variant that's associated with higher sugar consumption is associated with impaired [sugar] sensing ability," he said.

The team measured the effects of the genetic variation in two groups of volunteers; one consisted of older, overweight or obese adults, while the other typically featured healthy young adults who were mostly lean.

Subjects were questioned about their diets, and researchers took blood samples to check for the presence of the GLUT2 gene.

The results showed older participants with the GLUT2 variant consumed up to 30 grams of sugar per day more than those without. In the younger group, GLUT2 subjects drank up to five times more sugary drinks and consumed 20 times more sweets than those without the variant.

"From what we were able to ascertain, the types of food  consumed contribute to the extra sugars," said El-Sohemy of younger, leaner subjects. "And it looked like they were more likely to consume sweetened beverages and sweets, things like chocolates, cake, candy."

El-Sohemy said the genetic variation was found in about 20% of participants in both groups, suggesting that one in five persons could carry the sweet-tooth gene.

"These findings may help explain some of the individual variations in people's preference for sugary foods," El-Sohemy said.

The research was published online in the journal Physiological Genomics.

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