Choosing sweeteners wisely—nutrigenetic study on childhood obesity

Background: This study investigated the association of specific sweet-taste and obesity-related genes with sweetener consumption patterns among children and the interaction between these genetic factors and sweetener intake on the risk of childhood obesity. By leveraging data from the Taiwanese Pubertal Longitudinal Study (TPLS), the current study minimized the influence of environmental confounders commonly encountered in adult studies, offering a more precise understanding of these relationships in pediatric and adolescent populations. Methods: Participants in the TPLS underwent genetic sampling, anthropometric measurements, puberty stage assessments, dietary recall, and measurements of relevant lifestyle variables. Nonnutritive sweetener (NNS) intake was assessed using the validated Nonnutritive Sweetener Food Frequency Questionnaire (NNS-FFQ). The statistical analysis employs logistic regression to investigate the correlations between genotypes and sweetener consumption, while accounting for potential confounders such as parental education and household income. Simultaneously, the study examines gene-sweetener interactions to assess the association between specific alleles and particular sweetener consumption patterns. Results: Higher consumption of specific artificial sweeteners—acesulfame potassium, sucralose, and steviol—was associated with lower body mass index (BMI) Z-scores and reduced body fat percentage. The interaction analyses indicated a significantly positive association of the interaction between sucralose consumption and sweet-taste genes on the waist–hip ratio. Genetic analysis revealed significant associations between obesity-related genes (e.g., ADCY9 and TFAP2B) and sweet-taste receptor genes (e.g., TAS1R2 and TAS1R3) with sweetener consumption, which may influence susceptibility to obesity. Notably, rs7498665 was significantly associated with BMI Z-scores, underscoring its role in obesity predisposition. Conclusions: These findings highlight the genetic underpinnings of sweetener consumption and its interactive effects with genetic variants on childhood obesity risk, providing valuable insights for promoting public health and developing personalized nutrition strategies. Future research involving larger samples and consideration of genetic and environmental factors is required to develop personalized nutrition strategies aimed at effectively combating childhood obesity.