Scientists link gene to preference for fatty foods
People with certain versions of the CD36 gene may have an above-average liking for high-fat foods, a study in the journal Obesity suggests.According to scientists at Pennsylvania State University, some people's genetic make-up may influence their ability to stick to a low-fat diet.
This means they may benefit from following specially devised diet plans that take their preference for higher-fat foods into account.
Kathleen Keller, assistant professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State, observed that fat is "universally palatable" to humans.
"Yet we have demonstrated for the first time that people who have particular forms of the CD36 gene tend to like higher-fat foods more and may be at greater risk for obesity compared to those who do not have this form of the gene," she revealed.
"In animals, CD36 is a necessary gene for the ability to both detect and develop preferences for fat. Our study is one of the first to show this relationship in humans."
High-fat foods that people should limit their intake of include fatty cuts of meat, sausages, butter, cheese, cream and cakes.
