AUTHOR=Wang Rui , van Keeken Nika M. A. , Siddiqui Sana , Dijksman Lea M. , Maudsley Stuart , Derval Diana , van Dam P. Sytze , Martin Bronwen TITLE=Higher TNF-α, IGF-1, and Leptin Levels are Found in Tasters than Non-Tasters JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology VOLUME=5 YEAR=2014 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2014.00125 DOI=10.3389/fendo.2014.00125 ISSN=1664-2392 ABSTRACT=
Taste perception is controlled by taste cells that are present in the tongue that produce and secrete various metabolic hormones. Recent studies have demonstrated that taste receptors in tongue, gut, and pancreas are associated with local hormone secretion. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a link between taste sensitivity and levels of circulating metabolic hormones in humans and whether taste sensitivity is potentially related to peripheral metabolic regulation. Thirty-one subjects were recruited and separated into tasters and non-tasters based on their phenol thiocarbamide (PTC) bitter taste test results. Fasting plasma and saliva were collected and levels of hormones and cytokines were assayed. We observed significant differences in both hormone levels and hormone-body mass index (BMI) correlation between tasters and non-tasters. Tasters had higher plasma levels of leptin (