Why can’t you stop eating foods that you know are not good for you? Don’t blame yourself too much. Your fondness for chocolate, buns or fast food could be genetically determined , according to a study by the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM). Researcher Silvia Berciano presented her conclusions at the 2017 Scientific Sessions of the American Nutrition Society (ASN), in Chicago, where she shows how the genetic variants that we possess modify our brain and determine our tastes and eating habits.
As Berciano explains: “most people have many problems modifying their eating habits , even being aware of what is best for their interests. The reason is that what we eat is affected by our preferences and our ability and ability to follow plans. “.
It is the first time that a study identifies how genes affect the dietary preferences of a group of healthy people . Until now, only evidence was available of how genes are involved in the eating patterns of people with disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia .
In this study, a sample of 818 men and women of European origin was taken, with surprising conclusions: a high intake of chocolate and also a greater waist size have been associated with the gene that expresses oxytocin receptors . In turn, a gene associated with obesity plays an important role in our preference for vegetables and foods rich in fiber.
Berciano’s study may open the door to a new kind of personalized medicine . Knowing the genetic variants that make a person more likely to consume certain foods can help prevent diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In Berciano’s words, the study’s conclusions can “pave the way towards a better understanding of eating habits , and will allow the design of a personalized diet that is more accessible to the individual, resulting in better compliance and more successful results.”
The next step is to repeat the study with a group of different characteristics and ethnicities, as well as to identify the relationship of genetic variants of food intake with the incidence of some diseases.
References:
Berciano S. (2017). Behavior related genes, dietary preferences and anthropometric traits. The Phase B Journal.
