More than 90 percent of the U.S. population has one of the gene variants in the study, researchers said.
Scientists have been investigating the differences in how people taste bitter for at least a few decades. Some of the foundation of the work with this genotype can be attributed to University of Florida professor Linda M. Bartoshuk, who called such people “supertasters.”
We’ve known about it for a while but have just been starting to tease out the genetic components of it for the last five or 10 years,” Smith said. “As a group of researchers and scientists, we have begun to ask about how it affects health, but there is still not a lot about how it affects patients with cardiovascular issues.”
The next step, Smith said will be to look at three variants in each gene, called an SNP, or Single nucleotide polymorphisms. She plans to hone in on salt acuity and use 24-hour urine analysis to pinpoint exactly how much sodium study subjects are consuming.
For Smith, in her third year of doctorate studies and who began her career working in home health, it’s all about a holistic look at her patients.
“Nursing, particularly our research, is always focused on improving patient care and making our patients lives better,” Smith said. “With this, we can be more informed about their needs, and the more we can relate to their needs, the more engaged they become.”
