PROP SENSITIVITY AND OBESITY AMONG ETHNIC CHILDREN

摘要：肥胖的发病是多因素的。虽然能量不平衡是c#使用导致肥胖的最主要原因，但影响能量不平衡的因素有很多。由基因决定的对苦味的敏感性（对丙基硫尿嘧啶（PROP）的敏感性）与成人的肥胖和幼儿的肥胖前兆（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（如辣椒素）和膳食脂肪摄入量的偏好呈负相关。因此，PROP敏感性对可能导致儿童肥胖的行为提供了基因决定的影响。虽然有越来越多的关于白人成年人PROP敏感性的文献，但关于儿童或少数民族的文献却很少。目前还不清楚这种由基因决定的特征是否在出生时表达并在一生中保持不变，或者是否有发育影响其表达。早期关于全球对苦味敏感度的研究表明，不同大洲、不同种族的人对苦味的敏感度存在很大差异。在那里;然而，没有数据表明在美国，PROP敏感性的患病率是否因种族而异。因此，本研究将在一个样本中评估PROP敏感性在三个年龄和三个民族的儿童中的患病率，并评估PROP敏感性与肥胖状况的关系。在另一个样本中，本研究还将评估PROP敏感性与从4、5岁到12、16岁的7 - 12年期间BMI变化的关系。此外，两项研究将测试是否成分；在控制了能量消耗和其他可能的因素后，饮食摄入介导了这种关系

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.