that interact with dietary fat and affect BMI, and in this taste cell nuclei.
e cell nuclei. Taken together, the results suggest that
study, researchers analyzed dozens of variants of those
genes and other genes frequently associated with obesity
risk. They saw that while total fat intake was related to
higher BMI, people who were genetically predisposed to
obesity and ate the most saturated fat had the highest BMIs.
The findings accounted for possible confounding factors
such as age, sex, and physical activity levels. The researchers
think that people who have these obesity-predisposing
gene variants may be more sensitive to saturated fat. The
genetic risk score could be useful in identifying people who
are predisposed to obesity, and possibly it could ultimately
lead to personalized dietary recommendations.
Source: Casas-Augustench P, et al. S aturated f a t in take
m odulates the association between a n obesity genetic risk
score a n d body m ass in d ex in two U.S. populations [pub­
lished onlin e a h e a d o f p r in t M ay 2, 2014], J A c a d N u tr
Diet. In press. DOI: 1 0 .1 0 l6 /j.ja n d .2 0 1 4 .0 3 014.
STRESS HORMONE RECEPTORS LOCALIZED
IN MOUSE SWEET TASTE CELLS
According to new research from Monell Center, receptors
for stress-activated hormones have been localized in oral
taste cells responsible for detection of sweet, umami, and
bitter, at least in mice. Researchers believe that these hor­
mones, the glucocorticoids (GCs), may act directly on taste
receptor cells under conditions of stress to affect how these
cells respond to sugars and certain other taste stimuli. Simply
put, the sweet taste may be particularly affected by stress,
and according to them, the study may provide a molecular
mechanism to help explain why some people eat more
sugary foods when they are experiencing intense stress.
Glucocorticoid hormones affect the body by activating spe­
cialized GC receptors located inside of cells. The researchers
used a mouse model to ask w hether taste receptor cells
contain these GC receptors and found that GC receptors
are present on the tongue, where they are specifically lo­
calized to the cells that contain receptors for sweet, umami,
and bitter taste. The highest concentrations of GC receptors
were found in Taslr3 taste cells, which are sensitive to
sweet and umami taste. Glucocorticoid hormones act on
cells via a multistep process. After GCs bind to their re­
ceptors within target cells, it is thought that the activated
receptor complex moves, or translocates, to the cell nu­
cleus, where it then influences gene expression and pro­
tein assembly. To explore w hether GC receptors in taste
tissue are activated by stress, the researchers compared the
proportion of taste cells with translocated receptors in
stressed and nonstressed mice. Com pared with controls,
die stressed mice had a 77% increase in GC receptors within
166 N u trition Today
sweet taste perception and intake, which are known to be
altered by stress, may be specifically affected via secretion
of GCs and subsequent activation of GC receptors in taste
cells. Although stress is known to affect intake of salty
foods, GC receptors were not found in cells thought to be
responsible for detecting sally and sour taste. Possibly stress
may influence salt taste processing in the brain.
Source: M. Rockwell Parker, et al. Expression a n d nuclear trans­
location o f glucocorticoid receptors in type 2 taste receptor cells.
Neurosci Lett. Ju n e 2014. DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2014.04.047.
CAFFEINE AFFECTS BOYS AND GIRLS
DIFFERENTLY AFTER PUBERTY
Caffeine intake by children and adolescents has been
rising for decades, due in large part to the popularity of
caffeinated sodas and energy drinks, which now are mar­
keted to children as young as 4 years. Despite this, there is
little research on the effects of caffeine on young people. In
a new study, after puberty, boys and girls were found to
experience different heart rate and blood pressure changes
after consuming caffeine. Girls also exhibited some differ­
ences in caffeine effects over the course of their menstrual
cycles. Caffeine increases blood pressure and decreases
heart rate in children, teens, and adults, including pread­
olescent boys and girls. This study questioned whether
gender differences in cardiovascular responses to caffeine
emerge after puberty and if those responses differed across
phases of the menstrual cycle. An interaction between gen­
der and caffeine dose was found, with boys having a greater
response to caffeine than gills. There were also interactions
between pubertal phase, gender, and caffeine dose, with
gender differences present in postpubertal, but not in pre­
pubertal, participants. In the study, heart rate and blood
pressure were examined before and after administration of
placebo and 2 doses of caffeine (1 and 2 mg/kg) in pre­
pubertal (8- to 9-year-old; n = 52) and postpubertal (15- to
17-year-old; n = 49) boys (n = 54) and girls (n = 47). The
menstrual cycle is marked by changing levels of honnones,
which are the follicular phase, which begins on the first day
of menstruation and ends with ovulation, and the luteal
phase, which follows ovulation and is marked by signif­
icantly higher levels of progesterone than the previous
phase. G ender differences may have been m ediated by
physiological factors such as steroid horm one level or by
differences in patterns of caffeine use, caffeine use by peers,
or more autonomy and control over beverage purchases.
Source: Temple JL, et al. Cardiovascular responses to caf­
fe in e by gender an d p u b erta l stage [published a h ea d ofprint
J u n e 16, 2014], Pediatrics. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2013-3962.
Volume 49, Number 4, July/August 2014
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