Is food refusal in autistic children related to TAS2R38 genotype?
A 30-second PROP strip test can flag bitter hypersensitivity, helping you predict which autistic kids will reject bitter veggies before you plate them.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team asked if bitter-taste genes explain why many autistic kids reject veggies.
They compared 43 autistic children with food refusal to 36 autistic kids who ate a wide diet.
Each child tasted a PROP paper strip and gave a bitterness rating. A quick cheek swab found which version of the TAS2R38 gene they carried.
What they found
Kids who refused food were three times more likely to carry the bitter-sensitive gene type.
Those same children rated the strip as twice as bitter.
In plain words, strong bitter taste, not just stubbornness, drives the no-thank-you bite.
How this fits with other research
Chawner et al. (2019) reviewed 36 feeding studies and found most work without checking taste genes. Pia’s result says you may speed things up if you screen first.
Burrell et al. (2023) showed the MEAL Plan parent-training program helps selective eaters, but only half of families responded. Knowing a child has bitter genes could flag who needs the stronger version of MEAL Plan.
Woods et al. (2019) used escape extinction to cut refusal no matter the cause. Pia’s data do not fight that approach; they simply add a cheap 30-second test so you can predict who will need the heavier treatment.
Why it matters
You now have a quick PROP strip test to spot bitter hypersensitivity before therapy starts. If the strip tastes awful to the child, plan smaller bites, mask bitter flavors, or use extra reinforcement. Pair this genetic clue with the solid behavioral tools from Chawner and Lindsey papers to save sessions and stress.
Want CEUs on This Topic?
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ free CEUs — live every Wednesday. Ethics, supervision & clinical topics.
Join Free →Hand the child a PROP strip, note the face they make, and start bitter foods with a sweet dip or tiny bite requirement if they grimace.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
UNLABELLED: Several studies suggest that atypical eating behaviors, in particular food selectivity, are more frequent in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A link between bitter taste perception, namely PROP/PTC sensitivity and food preferences is known in healthy children. The aim of this study is to investigate whether genetic variants of the TAS2R38 taste receptor responsible for different bitter sensitivity could affect foods preferences and consequently food refusal in ASD children. We recruited 43 children with ASD and 41 with normotypic development (TD) with or without food selectivity, aged between 2 and 11 years. Children were characterized for bitter sensitivity by means of PROP strips and FACS analysis and genotyped for TAS2R38 polymorphisms. Food selectivity was assessed by a validated food preference questionnaire filled by parents. A statistically significant correlation between PROP sensitivity and food refusal was observed. Furthermore, a prevalence of the PAV-sensitive haplotype compared to the AVI-insensitive one was seen in ASD children with food selectivity. In agreement with the initial hypothesis the results show that food refusal in ASD children is mediated by bitter taste sensitivity thus suggesting that the bitter sensitivity test may be used as a device to orientate tailored food proposals for the practical management of food selectivity in ASD. Autism Res 2018, 11: 531-538. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: A variation of the gene TAS2R38, associated with bitter taste sensitivity, can cause a different perception of some foods. In particular, some children are hypersensitive to bitterness and show a more restricted repertoire of accepted foods. We evaluate bitter sensitivity in ASD children with or without food selectivity, through a simple bitter taste test with edible strips. The results show that food refusal in ASD children can be mediated by bitter taste sensitivity thus suggesting that the bitter sensitivity test may be used as a device to orientate tailored food proposals for the practical management of food selectivity in ASD.
Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 2018 · doi:10.1002/aur.1912