PROP SENSITIVITY AND OBESITY AMONG ETHNIC CHILDREN

翻译后摘要：肥胖是多因素的起源。虽然能量不平衡是肥胖的近端原因，但影响能量不平衡的因素很多。遗传决定的对苦味的敏感性（对丙基硫氧嘧啶（PROP）的敏感性）与成人肥胖和幼儿肥胖的前兆（如总能量）呈负相关。作为对这些关系的一种可能的解释，PROP也与对苦味蔬菜、辛辣食物（例如，辣椒素）和膳食脂肪摄入。因此，PROP敏感性对可能导致儿童肥胖的行为提供了遗传决定的影响。虽然关于白色成年人PROP敏感性的文献越来越多，但在儿童或少数民族中发表的文献很少。目前还没有确定这种由基因决定的特征是否在出生时就表现出来并在一生中保持不变，或者是否有发育对其表达的影响。早期关于地球仪对苦味的敏感性的研究表明，各大洲之间的这种敏感性存在很大差异，因此种族群体也存在很大差异。但是，没有数据表明美国不同种族人群的PROP敏感性患病率是否不同。因此，在一个样本中，本研究将评估三个年龄和三个种族的儿童中PROP敏感性的患病率，并评估PROP敏感性与肥胖状态的关系。在第二个样本中，本研究还将评估从4岁或5岁到12岁到16岁的7到12年期间PROP敏感性与BMI变化的关系。此外，这两项研究将测试是否成分;饮食摄入量调节这种关系后，控制能量消耗和其他可能的影响。 混杂因素和心理社会变量是否介导PROP状态与FV摄入的关系。了解不同年龄的PROP敏感性患病率将明确不同年龄的基因表达可能存在的差异。不同种族群体的患病率差异可以解释肥胖的种族差异。 了解PROP敏感性如何与肥胖和食物摄入量相关，可以提供一个容易确定的分层变量，饮食干预措施可以量身定制。

Abstract: Obesity is multifactorial in origin. While energy imbalance is the proximal c# use of obesity, many factors influence energy imbalance. The genetically determined sensitivity to bitter taste (sensitivity to propylthiouracil (PROP)) has been inversely related to obesity among adults and to precursors of obesity (e.g. total energy) among young children. As a possible explanation for these relationships, PROP has also been inversely related to preferences for vegetables with a bitter taste, spicy foods (e g. capsaicin) and dietary fat intake. Thus, PROP sensitivity provides a genetically determined influence on behaviors which may lead to obesity among children. While there is a growing literature on PROP sensitivity in white adults, very little has been published among children or among ethnic minorities. It has not teen established whether this genetically determined trait is expressed at birth and remains constant through life, or if there are developmental influences on its expression. Early work on sensitivity to bitter tastes around the globe suggested large differences in this sensitivity across continents, and thereby ethnic groups. There; are no data, however, on whether the prevalence of PROP sensitivity differs by ethnic group in the US. Thus in one sample this research will assess the prevalence of PROP sensitivity among children in three age arid three ethnic groups, and assess the relationship of PROP sensitivity to adiposity status In a second sample, this research will also assess the relationship of PROP sensitivity to change in BMI over a 7 to 12 year period from 4 or 5 years of age to 12 to 16 years. In addition, both studies will test whether component; dietary intake mediate this relationship after controlling for energy expenditure and other possible confounding factors and whether psychosocial variables mediate the relationship of PROP status to FV intake. Knowing the prevalence of PROP sensitivity by age will specify possible differences in genetic expression by age. Differences in the prevalence by ethnic group could explain ethnic differences in obesity. Understanding how PROP sensitivity relates to obesity and food intake could provide an easily determined stratifying variable to which dietary interventions could be tailored.