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Human adrenergic α2A receptor C-1291G polymorphism leads to higher consumption of sweet food products

Molecular Psychiatry volume 12, pages 520–521 (2007)Cite this article

It is generally accepted that proportionally high-fat diet results in increased body fat content, which is one of the key factors of cardiovascular diseases. However, exaggeration of carbohydrate intake may lead to similar outcome as excessive sugars are transformed and stored as lipids. Carbohydrate metabolism is influenced to a great extent by consumption of exogenous sugar and secretion of insulin. Adrenoreceptors form the interface between catecholamines and a wide array of target cells in the body to mediate signals in the sympathetic nervous system. It has been shown that the C-1291G polymorphism in the promoter region of the gene coding the α2A-adrenoceptor (ADRA2A) influences fasting glucose levels1 and is also important in insulin secretion.2 The possibility that there might be a genetic basis for food preference was recently highlighted by the finding that a polymorphism of a serotonin receptor gene is associated with higher consumption of beef and essential amino acids.3 Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the ADRA2A C-1291G polymorphism is associated with glucose levels and consumption of sweet food products.

The subjects were students who participated in the European Youth Heart Study (EYHS) in Estonia.4 They were all Caucasian and of the 3rd and 9th grade with a mean age of 9.6±0.5 and 15.5±0.6 years, respectively. In total, 1171 subjects were genotyped for the C-1291G polymorphism.5 Dietary 24-h-recall of food intake was made in a face-to-face interactive interview, using a diary kept on all food intakes to indicate the size of consumed food portion and whether this eating pattern was habitual.6 Nutrient intake data were analyzed with the database Micro-Nutrica 2.0. The study was approved by a local Ethics Committee.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants Estonian Science Foundation 0422 J, 5450, 6788 and the Estonian Ministry of the Education and Science 0182643, 0182648 and 0942706.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

    J Mäestu, M Paaver & J Harro

  2. Department of Public Health, Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

    I Villa, L Merenäkk & D Eensoo

  3. Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia

    J Parik

  4. National Institute for Health Development, Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Tallinn, Estonia

    M Harro

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  1. J Mäestu
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  2. I Villa
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  7. M Harro
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Correspondence to J Mäestu.

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Mäestu, J., Villa, I., Parik, J. et al. Human adrenergic α2A receptor C-1291G polymorphism leads to higher consumption of sweet food products. Mol Psychiatry 12, 520–521 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4001976

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