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Supertaster

A supertaster is an individual who experiences taste sensations, particularly bitterness, with significantly greater intensity than the average person, due to a higher density of fungiform papillae on the tongue that house taste buds.^[1] This heightened sensitivity, first identified through responses to compounds like 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP), affects about 25% of the population and extends to other tastes such as sweet, salty, and umami, as well as oral irritation from spicy foods.^[2] Supertasters often perceive foods as more flavorful or aversive, influencing dietary preferences and habits.^[3] The concept of supertasting was coined in 1991 by researcher Linda Bartoshuk, building on earlier 1931 observations of genetic variation in tasting thiourea compounds like phenylthiocarbamide (PTC).^[2] Supertasters are distinguished from medium tasters (about 45-50% of people) and non-tasters (25-30%), who have fewer papillae and perceive bitterness less intensely or not at all.^[1] Diagnosis typically involves PROP taste tests, where supertasters rate the compound as extremely bitter, often combined with counting visible papillae through a dyed tongue examination.^[3] Genetically, supertaster status is primarily linked to variations in the TAS2R38 gene, which encodes a bitter taste receptor; individuals with certain alleles exhibit stronger binding to bitter compounds like PROP and PTC.^[4] However, the trait is not fully explained by this gene alone, as papillae density and other factors like the gustin gene (CA6) also contribute to overall taste intensity.^[2] Prevalence varies by ethnicity, with higher rates of non-tasters in some populations, but globally, the tasting allele predominates in about 70-75% of people.^[4] Supertasters may face dietary challenges, such as aversion to bitter vegetables like broccoli or coffee, potentially leading to lower intake of nutrient-rich foods and altered health risks.^[1] Conversely, their sensitivity correlates with lower body mass index, reduced alcohol consumption, and less smoking, possibly due to heightened aversion to bitter or irritating substances.^[1] Recent studies (as of 2025) have also linked TAS2R38 variations to enhanced innate immunity against COVID-19, as well as associations with dental caries and bipolar disorder.^[5]^[6] These traits highlight supertasting's role in sensory variation and its implications for nutrition and public health.^[2]

Definition and Characteristics

Definition

A supertaster is an individual who experiences heightened taste perception compared to the general population, particularly in response to bitter compounds, resulting from an increased density of fungiform papillae on the tongue.^[7]^[8] This elevated sensitivity allows supertasters to detect and perceive certain flavors at intensities that others may not notice, often leading to more pronounced sensory experiences across taste qualities.^[2] Supertasters are classified within a spectrum of taste sensitivity that includes supertasters (high sensitivity), medium tasters (average sensitivity), and non-tasters (low or no sensitivity).^[1]^[2] This categorization is primarily based on the intensity of perceived bitterness to synthetic compounds like 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) or phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), where supertasters rate these substances as intensely bitter while non-tasters perceive little to no bitterness.^[1]^[2] As a result, supertasters often exhibit stronger reactions to a variety of flavors, such as heightened aversion to bitter foods like coffee or cruciferous vegetables, and amplified responses to sweet, salty, or spicy stimuli.^[7]^[2] This trait has genetic underpinnings that contribute to the variation in taste bud density and receptor function.^[7]

Physiological Traits

Supertasters possess a notably higher density of fungiform papillae on the anterior portion of the tongue compared to average tasters, with supertasters typically exhibiting densities greater than 50 papillae per cm² in many studies, though results vary and some research finds no significant correlation with taster status.^[9]^[10] These mushroom-shaped structures house the majority of taste buds responsible for detecting basic taste qualities, and the elevated density in supertasters results in a greater overall number of taste receptors, enhancing the detection and processing of gustatory stimuli. This anatomical variation is influenced by genetic factors that affect papillae development. In addition to increased peripheral receptor density, supertasters demonstrate heightened neural signaling from taste buds to the central nervous system, where incoming taste signals are amplified through central gain mechanisms in the brain.^[11] This amplification intensifies the perceived magnitude of taste sensations, making flavors such as bitterness and sweetness more vivid compared to individuals with standard taste acuity. The result is a compressed dynamic range of taste perception, where supertasters experience everyday stimuli at intensities that may approach or exceed those rated as "strong" by others.^[12] Sensitivity to compounds like 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) or phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) serves as a reliable proxy for overall taste acuity in supertasters, who consistently rate these bitter agents at significantly higher intensities on validated psychophysical scales. On the general Labeled Magnitude Scale (gLMS), a quasi-logarithmic tool ranging from "no sensation" (0) to "strongest imaginable sensation" (100), supertasters typically score PROP solutions above the "moderate" anchor (around 17–35), often exceeding 50, in contrast to medium tasters who fall below this threshold.^[11] This heightened response underscores PROP/PTC tasting as a marker of broader sensory enhancement rather than isolated bitterness detection.^[12]

History and Discovery

Initial Observations

The discovery of genetic variation in taste perception began in 1931 when chemist Arthur Fox accidentally released phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) powder into the air during an experiment at DuPont, noticing that while he himself could not taste it, some colleagues perceived it as intensely bitter and others detected no taste at all.^[4] This serendipitous event highlighted a bimodal distribution in human sensitivity to PTC's bitterness, with "tasters" experiencing strong aversion and "nontasters" showing indifference, marking the first documented evidence of inherited taste blindness to a specific compound.^[13] Early replications in the 1930s confirmed Fox's findings through family-based investigations, which revealed patterns consistent with Mendelian inheritance. L.H. Snyder tested relatives and concluded that nontaster status followed a recessive single-gene pattern, while Albert F. Blakeslee conducted larger surveys across thousands of individuals, noting familial clustering and variability in sensitivity thresholds spanning orders of magnitude.^[13] By the mid-20th century, studies in the 1940s and 1950s, including twin comparisons and pedigree analyses, further supported heritability, with nontaster frequencies averaging around 30% in tested populations and clear segregation in families, though without formal nomenclature for heightened sensitivity.^[14] In sensory psychology prior to the 1990s, preliminary observations connected these taste differences to behavioral outcomes, particularly food aversions. Researchers noted that PTC tasters often expressed stronger dislikes for bitter vegetables like cabbage, linking sensitivity to natural plant compounds such as l-5-vinyl-2-thio-oxazolidone, potentially as an evolutionary adaptation to avoid toxins.^[13] Studies in the 1960s and 1970s, such as those by Ronald Fischer and colleagues, extended this to broader dietary patterns, finding correlations between high PTC sensitivity and aversions to certain foods, as well as influences on habits like smoking, underscoring taste variation's role in everyday sensory experiences.^[15] These early insights laid groundwork for later genetic identifications, such as the TAS2R38 receptor gene.^[13]

Key Research Milestones

The concept of supertasters was formally introduced in 1991 by psychologist Linda Bartoshuk during her research at Yale University, where she identified individuals with heightened sensitivity to the bitter compound 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) based on intensity ratings and counts of fungiform papillae on the tongue.^[2] Bartoshuk's studies revealed that these supertasters experienced oral sensations approximately three times more intensely than medium tasters and nontasters, leading her to coin the term "supertaster" to describe this population, which comprised about 25% of those tested.^[2] Her subsequent work at the University of Florida further refined these findings, emphasizing the role of papillae density in amplifying taste, pain, and irritation from compounds like capsaicin.^[2] In the 2000s, research advanced significantly with the identification of the TAS2R38 gene as a key determinant of PROP bitterness sensitivity, marking a shift toward genetic underpinnings of taste variation. Seminal work by Kim et al. in 2003 used positional cloning to pinpoint TAS2R38 on chromosome 7q36, demonstrating that specific haplotypes (notably the proline-alanine-valine or PAV variant) conferred high sensitivity to PROP and phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), while the alanine-valine-isoleucine (AVI) variant was associated with nontaster status. This discovery, later corroborated by genome-wide association studies, explained up to 85% of the phenotypic variance in bitterness perception and opened avenues for linking taste genetics to dietary behaviors.^[16] From the 2010s to the 2020s, supertaster research expanded to explore broader implications, including multisensory integration and health outcomes, building on genetic and physiological foundations.^[2] A pivotal 2021 cohort study published in JAMA Network Open involving 1,935 participants found that individuals with the nontaster TAS2R38 phenotype (AVI/AVI) had a higher risk of severe disease progression and prolonged symptoms compared to tasters, suggesting bitter taste receptors' role in respiratory immunity via airway defense mechanisms.^[5] More recently, a 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of 27 studies involving over 10,000 adults revealed no overall association between bitterness sensitivity (measured via PTC/PROP tests) and body mass index or obesity risk, though supertasters showed subtle trends toward lower central adiposity, highlighting nuanced links to body composition rather than weight status.^[17]

Genetic Basis

Primary Genetic Factors

The primary genetic determinant of supertaster status is the TAS2R38 gene, located on the long arm of chromosome 7 at position 7q34, which encodes the bitter taste receptor protein T2R38.^[18] This G protein-coupled receptor is expressed in taste bud cells on the tongue and plays a crucial role in detecting bitter compounds, particularly phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) and 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP). Variations in TAS2R38 arise from three common non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at positions rs713598 (C/G), rs1726866 (T/C), and rs10246939 (C/T), resulting in two major haplotypes: proline-alanine-valine (PAV) and alanine-valine-isoleucine (AVI). Individuals homozygous for the PAV haplotype (PAV/PAV) exhibit the highest sensitivity to PTC and PROP, classifying them as supertasters, while AVI/AVI homozygotes are non-tasters with minimal or no perception of these compounds, and PAV/AVI heterozygotes display intermediate sensitivity. This genotype-phenotype correlation is well-established, with supertaster status strongly linked to the PAV/PAV configuration.^[19] The inheritance of TAS2R38-mediated bitter taste sensitivity follows an autosomal dominant pattern, where the presence of at least one PAV allele confers tasting ability, and non-tasting is recessive (AVI/AVI). In populations with balanced allele frequencies approximating 50% PAV, Mendelian segregation predicts that approximately 25% of individuals will be PAV/PAV supertasters, 50% PAV/AVI medium tasters, and 25% AVI/AVI non-tasters, aligning with observed distributions in many Caucasian cohorts.^[19] Functionally, the PAV variant of T2R38 binds PTC and PROP with high affinity, leading to robust activation of downstream signaling pathways that amplify bitter taste perception and trigger stronger neural responses compared to the non-functional AVI variant. This enhanced binding efficiency results from key amino acid substitutions—proline at position 49, alanine at 262, and valine at 296—that stabilize agonist interaction with the receptor's extracellular binding pocket, thereby intensifying the supertaster's sensory experience of bitterness. Variations in the TAS2R gene family beyond TAS2R38 contribute to differential sensitivities to specific bitter compounds, influencing the overall bitter taste perception associated with supertasting. For instance, allelic variations in TAS2R5, part of a haploblock with TAS2R3 and TAS2R4, explain variability in perceived bitterness from caffeine-containing beverages like espresso.^[20] Similarly, polymorphisms in TAS2R14 modulate responses to denatonium benzoate, a potent synthetic bitter agonist that activates multiple TAS2Rs including TAS2R14, leading to heightened sensitivity in some individuals.^[21] Additionally, polymorphisms in the CA6 gene, which encodes gustin (carbonic anhydrase VI), a trophic factor for taste bud growth, influence fungiform papillae density and overall taste sensitivity to compounds like PROP, independent of TAS2R38 variations. For example, the rs2274333 (A/G) variant in CA6 has been linked to higher taste sensitivity in A allele carriers.^[22] Epigenetic modifications and gene-environment interactions further regulate taste receptor expression, impacting supertaster traits. Inflammation, such as that induced by lipopolysaccharide, alters chromatin accessibility in Tas2r gene clusters through mechanisms involving NF-κB binding and histone modifications, resulting in upregulated Tas2r expression and enhanced bitter taste sensitivity in taste cells.^[23] These changes highlight how environmental factors like infection can dynamically influence genetic predisposition to heightened taste perception without altering DNA sequence. Polygenic influences underlie the complex supertaster phenotype, with genome-wide association studies revealing multiple SNPs across TAS2R and related genes contributing to bitter taste variance. Polygenic risk scores for bitter taste, incorporating SNPs from at least two TAS2R loci beyond TAS2R38, account for additional phenotypic differences in sensitivity and food preferences.^[24] Recent research, including a 2024 study, has shown that the AVI haplotype of TAS2R38 is associated with increased risk and severity of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, highlighting the gene's role in broader health phenotypes beyond taste perception.^[25]

Prevalence and Demographics

Global Prevalence

Supertasters represent approximately 25% of the general population, with medium tasters comprising about 50% and non-tasters the remaining 25%, according to intensity ratings from 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) taste tests.^[1] These figures stem from psychophysical assessments that classify individuals based on perceived bitterness intensity relative to other tastants like sodium chloride.^[26] This 1:2:1 distributional model was first formalized in the 1990s through research led by Linda Bartoshuk at Yale University, where supertasters were identified by their markedly heightened sensitivity to PROP compared to medium tasters.^[2] Early studies, such as those published in 1994, used ratio scaling methods to delineate the trichotomy, revealing that supertasters experience bitterness at intensities up to 10 times greater than non-tasters.^[27] These foundational Yale experiments established PROP as a reliable proxy for broader bitter taste sensitivity, influencing subsequent global research.^[28] Estimates of prevalence can vary due to differences in testing methodologies, such as the use of filter paper strips versus liquid solutions or subjective scaling techniques, which may misclassify medium tasters as supertasters or non-tasters.^[29] For phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) sensitivity—a related but distinct bitter compound—global studies indicate taster rates averaging around 70-75%, though population-specific variations range from about 50% to 90% tasters, reflecting genetic and methodological factors.^[30]

Variations by Population

Supertaster prevalence exhibits notable sex-based differences, with women demonstrating higher rates than men. Studies indicate that approximately 35% of women qualify as supertasters compared to 15-20% of men, a disparity attributed to greater fungiform papillae density in females, influenced by sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone that modulate taste bud development and sensitivity.^[31]^[32] Ethnic variations in supertaster status are associated with differences in TAS2R38 gene haplotype frequencies, particularly the PAV allele linked to enhanced bitter taste perception. However, supertaster phenotype depends on multiple factors beyond TAS2R38 genotype, including fungiform papillae density. Populations of African descent show PAV allele frequencies around 51%, while South American or admixed American descent exhibit frequencies near 69%. East Asian populations display frequencies of approximately 65%, and European groups have lower frequencies at 46%. These patterns reflect geographic and ancestral divergences in allele distribution, as documented in large-scale genomic surveys, and contribute to higher rates of bitter sensitivity—and potentially supertaster status—in non-European populations compared to Europeans.^[33] Age-related changes further modulate supertaster characteristics, with peak sensitivity typically occurring in young adulthood and a marked decline after age 50 due to progressive loss of taste buds and reduced fungiform papillae density. Research shows overall taste function, including bitter sensitivity, diminishes significantly between ages 20-39 and 60+, with supertaster identification rates dropping by nearly half in older cohorts as a result of these physiological shifts.^[34]^[35]

Identification Methods

Behavioral Tests

Behavioral tests for identifying supertasters rely on subjective ratings of bitterness intensity from chemical stimuli, distinguishing individuals based on perceptual responses without invasive procedures. These methods emerged from early psychophysical studies on taste variation and have been refined to classify non-tasters, medium tasters, and supertasters.^[27] The PROP taster status test involves subjects rating the bitterness of diluted 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) solutions, typically at concentrations around 1.6 to 3.2 mM, using validated scales such as the general Labeled Magnitude Scale (gLMS) or magnitude estimation. Participants sip and spit the solution, then provide intensity ratings relative to a standard reference, like the strength of sodium chloride (NaCl) or a non-taste stimulus such as filtered sunlight. Supertasters are classified as those rating PROP bitterness above moderate levels, often exceeding 50 on the gLMS, reflecting heightened sensitivity compared to medium tasters (moderate ratings) and non-tasters (low or negligible bitterness). This suprathreshold scaling approach, introduced in seminal work, better differentiates taster subgroups than detection thresholds alone.^[27]^[36] PTC paper strips provide a simple, quick screening method using filter paper impregnated with phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), a compound chemically similar to PROP. Subjects place the strip on the tongue and report the perceived bitterness; supertasters experience strong, unpleasant bitterness, while non-tasters detect little to no taste, and medium tasters perceive mild bitterness. This binary-like response, rooted in early genetic taste research, serves as an initial classifier but is less precise for supertaster identification than PROP due to variability in PTC absorption.^[37]^[27] Comparative scaling enhances accuracy by normalizing PROP or PTC ratings against non-bitter controls, such as NaCl solutions or neutral stimuli, via sip-and-spit protocols or impregnated filters. For instance, the ratio of PROP intensity to NaCl intensity identifies supertasters as those with ratios greater than 1.6, accounting for individual scaling biases and providing a standardized measure of relative sensitivity. These techniques correlate with anatomical features like fungiform papillae density but focus on perceptual outcomes.^[27]^[38]

Anatomical Assessments

The anatomical assessment of supertaster status focuses on quantifying the density of fungiform papillae on the anterior tongue, as these mushroom-shaped structures contain multiple taste buds that contribute to heightened taste sensitivity in supertasters.^[27] A primary method for this evaluation is the blue dye staining technique, which involves applying food-grade blue dye evenly to the tongue tip with a cotton swab or dropper. The dye adheres to the surrounding filiform papillae, creating a blue background that contrasts with the unstained fungiform papillae, which appear as pink or light circles. Using a standardized template—typically a 6 mm diameter circle (approximately the size of a small hole punch)—the number of visible fungiform papillae is counted under magnification, such as with a hand lens. A count exceeding 35 papillae within this circle identifies an individual as a supertaster, reflecting the elevated density associated with enhanced taste perception.^[39]^[10] In research environments, greater precision is achieved through microscopy or digital imaging techniques. Under a dissecting microscope, stained tongue samples are examined to enumerate papillae and even individual taste pores within them. Alternatively, high-resolution digital photographs of the tongue (stained or unstained) are captured using intraoral cameras, followed by manual or automated counting via image analysis software that detects papillae based on shape, color contrast, and size thresholds. These approaches enable density measurements over larger tongue regions, such as the anterior 2 cm, and minimize inter-observer variability, with studies reporting high reliability (e.g., correlation coefficients >0.85 between manual and automated counts).^[40] Correlation studies from the 1990s led by Linda Bartoshuk established a robust link between elevated fungiform papillae density and sensitivity to the bitter tastant PROP (6-n-propylthiouracil), with anatomical counts demonstrating approximately 90% accuracy in predicting PROP supertaster status.^[27] This anatomical marker complements behavioral tests for validation but provides an objective, direct measure of taste anatomy.

Sensory Sensitivities

Bitter Taste Sensitivity

Supertasters exhibit a markedly amplified response to bitter compounds, particularly those found in glucosinolates present in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts. These individuals perceive the bitterness from glucosinolates like sinigrin and progoitrin at much higher intensities compared to medium tasters or nontasters, often rating these vegetables as overwhelmingly bitter even at typical dietary concentrations. For instance, studies have shown that supertasters, identified through heightened sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP), report significantly stronger aversive responses to the bitter profiles in raw or lightly cooked Brassica species.^[41]^[42] This heightened sensitivity extends to other prototypical bitter stimuli, including caffeine and quinine, which supertasters detect and experience as intensely bitter at concentrations that non- or medium tasters find mild or tolerable. Consequently, supertasters often report aversion to coffee, where caffeine contributes to the perceived bitterness, and to tonic water, primarily due to quinine's potent bitter notes. Research indicates that polymorphisms in bitter taste receptor genes, such as TAS2R38 for PROP-related sensitivity and TAS2R31 for quinine, underlie this differential perception, with supertasters showing elevated intensity ratings for these compounds across suprathreshold tests.^[42]^[43] The neural underpinnings of this amplified bitter perception involve stronger engagement of brain regions processing gustatory signals. Functional neuroimaging studies reveal that supertasters display heightened activation in the gustatory cortex, including the insula and superior temporal gyrus, during exposure to bitter tastants like PROP. This correlates with their subjective intensity ratings on the general Labeled Magnitude Scale (gLMS), where supertasters typically score 2-3 times higher than medium tasters for bitter stimuli, reflecting a more robust central representation of the taste signal.^[44]

Sensitivities to Other Flavors

Supertasters demonstrate heightened sensitivity to umami and sweet tastes, though these perceptions are typically less intense than their responses to bitterness. Genetic variations in the TAS1R family of taste receptors, such as polymorphisms in TAS1R1 for umami and TAS1R3 for sweet, contribute to this enhanced detection, allowing supertasters to experience greater intensity in savory broths or sugary foods compared to medium or non-tasters.^[2] However, the dominance of bitter sensitivity often overshadows these qualities, resulting in more complex or aversive overall flavor profiles in mixed-taste foods.^[2] This pattern extends to oral irritants, where supertasters perceive stronger sensations from compounds like capsaicin, the active component in chili peppers responsible for spiciness. Studies show that supertasters and medium tasters report significantly more oral burn from capsaicin concentrations as low as 50 ppm, attributing this to increased responsiveness in irritant-sensitive tongue regions.^[45] Such heightened irritation can make spicy foods particularly challenging, as the burning sensation amplifies beyond typical levels.^[2] Supertasters also exhibit greater sensitivity to fats and textures, often perceiving creaminess and fattiness with greater acuity. For example, they detect enhanced creaminess in mixtures of sugar and fat, linked to their dense distribution of fungiform papillae that amplify somatosensory signals from oral surfaces.^[2] This leads to finer discrimination of textural differences, such as subtle variations in food mouthfeel, allowing supertasters to notice smaller changes in viscosity or smoothness than average tasters.^[2] Multisensory interactions further shape supertaster experiences, with PROP taster status influencing olfactory perception of food volatiles. Research from the 2020s has shown that supertasters often display higher odor sensitivity, which enhances the detection of aroma compounds in complex foods like chocolate, contributing to more intense overall flavor integration during consumption.^[46]

Health and Dietary Implications

Dietary Behaviors and Preferences

Supertasters often avoid foods rich in bitter compounds due to their heightened gustatory sensitivity, leading to selective dietary patterns that favor less intense flavors. This aversion commonly extends to healthy options such as cruciferous vegetables like kale, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, as well as citrus fruits including grapefruit, which are perceived as overwhelmingly bitter.^[47]^[48] Research indicates that supertasters consume fewer cruciferous vegetables than non-tasters, contributing to lower overall vegetable intake. For instance, individuals carrying the bitter-taste gene variant are 2.6 times more likely to eat fewer than three servings of vegetables per day compared to those without it. Among consumers of these vegetables, bitter tasters ingest approximately 15.5 grams less per day on average.^[49]^[50] In response to bitter intensity, supertasters typically prefer milder, less pungent flavors, gravitating toward sweet, salty, or fatty foods that mask or avoid bitterness altogether. This inclination shapes cuisine preferences, often steering choices away from bitter-dominant dishes in favor of blander or sweetened preparations.^[47] These behaviors carry nutritional implications, particularly a reduced intake of phytochemicals like glucosinolates found in cruciferous vegetables, which exhibit anti-cancer effects. The 2018 International Food Information Service review emphasized that supertasters' avoidance patterns result in lower consumption of these protective compounds. Consequently, the diminished vegetable intake elevates the risk of micronutrient deficiencies, as such foods provide essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.^[47]^[51]

Associated Health Outcomes

Supertasters exhibit lower rates of sinonasal infections compared to non-supertasters, attributed to enhanced antimicrobial responses mediated by the TAS2R38 bitter taste receptor, which detects bacterial quorum-sensing molecules and triggers nitric oxide production to clear pathogens. A study of healthy adults found that only 10% of supertasters reported yearly to monthly sinus infections, versus 22% of non-supertasters, indicating significantly reduced frequency. Similarly, research on chronic rhinosinusitis patients has linked the supertaster phenotype (PAV/PAV genotype) to fewer infection incidences and improved nasal quality of life scores.^[52]^[53] Regarding obesity, supertaster status is associated with a lower body mass index (BMI) compared to medium or non-tasters, potentially due to heightened aversion to bitter compounds in calorie-dense foods, leading to reduced overall energy intake. In a cross-sectional analysis of adults, supertasters had significantly lower mean BMI values than non-tasters among both women and men, suggesting a protective effect against weight gain. This aligns with observations that supertasters, particularly females, show decreased preferences for sweet, high-fat foods, contributing to lower obesity risk. These outcomes are mediated through dietary behaviors, such as selective food avoidance.^[54]^[1] Certain TAS2R38 variants associated with supertaster status have been examined for links to COVID-19 outcomes. In a 2021 prospective cohort study of 1,935 adults with occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 at a US tertiary medical center, supertasters experienced the shortest mean symptom duration (5.0 days) compared to 13.5 days for tasters and 23.7 days for nontasters, with no supertasters requiring hospitalization. However, subsequent studies from 2024–2025 have reported mixed results, with some indicating higher infection risk or no significant association with COVID-19 outcomes for the PAV allele.^[5]^[55] Additionally, supertasters display greater aversion to alcohol's bitter and ethanol-related flavors, correlating with lower consumption levels and potentially decreased risk of alcohol use disorder.^[56]

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Q & A With Psychological Scientist Linda Bartoshuk
Apr 25, 2012 · Would you rather be a “supertaster” with all of the risks, or have no taste at all? ... These receptors can desensitize (Karrer & Bartoshuk, 1991) ...Missing: coin | Show results with:coin
[35]
An automated method to detect and quantify fungiform papillae in ...
The current methods for counting FP require staining of the tongue with a dye (blue food colouring), to provide contrast between the FP (which appear pink) and ...
[36]
Bitter taste, phytonutrients, and the consumer: a review - ScienceDirect
Plant-based phenols, flavonoids, isoflavones, terpenes, and glucosinolates are almost always bitter, acrid, or astringent (17, 18, 19, 20, 21). In addition to ...
[37]
Genetic Background of Taste Perception, Taste Preferences, and Its ...
Differences in taste perception and sensitivity may be explained by genetic variations, therefore the knowledge of the extent to which genetic factors influence ...
[38]
The impact of individual variations in taste sensitivity on coffee ...
The present study investigated responses of FP number and PROP taster groups to different bitter compounds and how these affect coffee perception, consumption ...
[39]
Genetic Taster Status as a Mediator of Neural Activity and ...
Higher scores on the general labeled magnitude scale (gLMS) during 6-n-Propylthiouracil testing were associated with supertaster status. RL = right/left, AP ...
[40]
Fat perception is related to PROP taster status - PubMed
Both medium tasters and supertasters perceived more oral burn from capsaicin than did nontasters at concentrations of 50, 70, and 100 ppm (p < or = 0.0001).
[41]
Food Neophobia, Odor and Taste Sensitivity, and Overall Flavor ...
Dec 16, 2021 · This study aimed to assess the relationship among individual factors, odor sensitivity, and enjoyment, and to evaluate how overall flavor perception and liking
[42]
Super Taster vs. Non Taster: Does it Matter for Your Health? - IFIS
Jan 25, 2018 · The terms "supertaster" and "non-taster" first appeared in a 1991 Food Technology article by Linda Bartoshuk, now a professor at the University ...
[43]
Super-tasters may avoid foods that contain cancer preventive ...
Feb 12, 1997 · Super-tasters—people with a genetically inherited sensitivity to bitter tastes—may avoid cancer preventive compounds found in bitter and tart ...
[44]
Attention Vegetable Haters: It Could Be In Your Genes - CBS News
Nov 12, 2019 · Super-tasters are extremely sensitive to bitterness, a common characteristic of many dark green, leafy veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and ...<|separator|>
[45]
Bitter taste sensitivity, cruciferous vegetable intake, obesity, and ...
Oct 16, 2023 · Among participants who ate cruciferous vegetables, bitter tasters on average consumed 15.5 g (±7.0) grams less cruciferous vegetables per day ...
[46]
Supertaster: Definition, Benefits, and Drawbacks - Healthline
Feb 21, 2019 · For supertasters, the fungiform papillae pick up bitter flavors more easily. The more sensitive taste buds are, the more intense the flavors ...
[47]
Phenylthiocarbamide taste sensitivity is associated with sinonasal ...
Supertaster status was significantly associated with less frequent sinonasal infections (by retrospective report), with 10% of supertasters reporting yearly to ...Missing: 2023 | Show results with:2023
[48]
Clinical Associations of Bitter Taste Perception and Bitter Taste ... - NIH
Feb 12, 2023 · Allelic variation in TAS2R bitter receptor genes associates with variation in sensations from and ingestive behaviors toward common bitter ...
[49]
Association of phenylthiocarbamide perception with anthropometric ...
Jul 27, 2022 · Studies carried out in older subjects also report that non-tasters are more likely to have a higher BMI than super-tasters [10, 15, 33].
[50]
Association Between Bitter Taste Receptor Phenotype and COVID ...
May 25, 2021 · Only 15 of these participants (5.6%) were categorized as supertasters prior to infection; 104 (39.1%) were categorized as tasters prior to ...
[51]
Bitter Receptor Gene (TAS2R38), 6-n-Propylthiouracil (PROP ...
The TAS2R38 gene location on chromosome 7 (7q36) is unlinked to the loci for alcohol dependence (7p12.3). Regions on chromosome 7 identified with alcohol ...