genes, culture + food choice Flashcards
what is cilantro?
leafy portion of coriander.
used in what countries
south asia, mexico, china, thailand, vietnam.
speculated that taste of cilantro depends on?
olfactory receptors + ability to smell aldehydes.
cilantro + genes
found that 80% of identical twins had same preference, whereas only 50% of fraternal twins had same preference.
– OR6A2 - but other genes involved as well. affect smell receptors + affect bitterness taste
seaweed - consumed where?
east asia. northern europe, coastal Canada.
what is seaweed? rich in?
algae. rich in iodine. sulfated polysacch like carrageenan are common food additives
microbiome + seaweed
not everyone’s microbiome has bacteria that can break down seaweed
how are sulfated polysacch digested?
marine bacteria can digest. one bacterial strain in human gut can produce same enzyme as marine bacteria.
presumably LGT. eating lots of seaweed = bacteria evolve/intermingled w other bacteria to get enzyme.
G6PD enzyme deficiency
glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.
hereditary abnormality.
oxidative stressors = rbc destruction => hemolysis + anemia.
whos more likely to have g6pd? effectS?
males bc on x-chromosome. differnt levels of deficiency bc polymorphism.
sometimes asymptomatic, sometimes v problematic.
how g6pd functions in rbc?
maintain level of reduced glutathione which prevents oxidative damage. lose reduced form = lose protection.
what is favism?
genetically inherited metabolic food disorder. from eating fava bean with g6pd deficiency = rbc hemolysis. bc fava bean can cause oxidative stress
symptoms of favism?
jaundice bc rbc breakdown. fever, dark yellow urine, fatigue, heavy fast breathing, weak, rapid pulse
why are fava beans still produced?
grow well in areas where they are consumed. cost effective.
preparation methods may reduce toxicity.
beans may offer disease resistance
g6pd + malaria
deficient in g6pd - mostly in asia, africa.
maybe deficiency stuck around to help ppl with malaria.
malaria die when high [ROS].
alternatively, changes in rbc size + shape = protective against malaria
fava - what to avoid + confusion
fava - foul. in arabic, peanuts = foul-sudani; soy = foul-al-soya. all tho not allergic to all, dont eat any.
primitive condition of lactase?
none after childhood. not able to digest milk. mutation = not ppl can drink milk
video: milk + mutants that love it
7/8 yoa = lose lactase. 70% of ppl cannot make lactase. genetic persistence in 30% of ppl.
gene maintained mostly in europe. for gene to be maintained by be advantageous. 2 reasons why advantage of milk + geography = milk has vit D - not easy to get in northern countries. milk keeps longer in their colder climates.
digestion of lactose
lactose = galatose + glucose. breaks down in small intestine to cross intestinal epithelium
lactose intolerance = 2 consequences
lactose ferments = produce gas. osmotically attracts fluid into bowel
lactose intolerance/malabsorption
- symptoms?
- severity depends on?
nausea, cramps, rumbling, bloat, gas, diarrhea
- severity: amount of lactose ingested, amount of lactase, colonic adaptation (over time if eat, develop lactase digesting bacteria)
lactase persistence - where geographically?
genetically determined. euro, some african, middle easten + south asian popln
several gene variants
arose independently at least 4 times. european variant different from other poplns.
strategies for managing lactose intolerance
recondition gut (colonic adaptation) single servings of milk w food. - yogurt > milk bc lower in lactose (unless milk solids added) = active bacteria facilitates lactose digestion. - hard cheese = little lactose. lactase tablets
lactose intolerance is not cows milk allergy.
intolerance = no lactase, malabsorption, not great digestion. appears later in life when lactase levels decrease
allergy = allergy to whey and casein in milk = immunologic response. could = anaphylactic shock. appears in childhoos
