The bitterness-receptor gene taste 2 receptor member 38 (TAS2R38, T2R38) is reportedly associated with bitterness sensitivity and dietary behavior and also plays a critical role in the regulation of appetite, energy balance, and adiposity-related dige...
The bitterness-receptor gene taste 2 receptor member 38 (TAS2R38, T2R38) is reportedly associated with bitterness sensitivity and dietary behavior and also plays a critical role in the regulation of appetite, energy balance, and adiposity-related digestive function, independent of dietary consumption. However, most studies on this association have been conducted in Western populations, and evidence regarding the Korean population is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to ascertain whether the TAS2R38 rs10246939 C>T genetic variation is associated with body size and composition in Koreans. It included 1,843 males and 1,801 females from the Ansan/Ansung cohort, Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study, and analyzed their TAS2R38 rs10246939 genotypes, general characteristics, anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist and hip circumferences, waist-to-hip ratio, and body mass index [BMI]), and body composition indices (intracellular and extracellular fluid content, body water content, muscle mass, lean body mass, protein content, mineral content, body fat, fat mass, abdominal fat mass, and obesity degree) via a sex-stratified approach. Based on a recessive genetic model (CC+CT vs. TT), participants with the TT genotype exhibited greater BMI (24.9±3.0 kg/m2, adjusted p=0.027), fat mass (31.5±5.2%, adjusted p=0.049), and obesity degree (123.2±15.3%, adjusted p=0.017) values than those with the C allele (CC+CT). Further, in females, the TT genotype was positively associated with BMI (B=0.428, adjusted r2=0.014, p=0.032), fat mass (B=0.743, adjusted r2=0.035, p=0.026), and obesity degree (B=2.363, adjusted r2=0.029, p=0.019) compared with the C allele (CC+CT). Moreover, the risk of obesity increased 1.382-fold in females with the TT genotype (95% confidence interval=1.038-1.840) according to an adjusted model with various participant demographic, sociological, and dietary characteristics. In conclusion, this study's findings suggest that the TAS2R38 rs10246939 genetic variation is associated with BMI, fat mass, and obesity degree in Korean females.