TORONTO -- For those who have a sweet tooth and wonder why they're so drawn to sugary foods and beverages, the answer could be that it's all in the genes.

Researchers at the University of Toronto have found that a genetic variation may be driving some people to consistently consume more sugar compared with those who pass on the toothsome treats.

In a study of about 700 subjects, published in the May issue of the journal Physiological Genomics, the researchers found that a variation of the GLUT2 gene is linked to habitual consumption of sugar.

The gene controls sugar entry into cells, and the findings may help explain individual preferences for foods with a high sugar content, said senior investigator Ahmed El-Sohemy of the department of nutritional sciences.

"Essentially what we found is that individuals who have a version of a gene called GLUT2 ... consume more sugar just as part of their habitual diet," El-Sohemy said in an interview Tuesday.

"Obviously, it doesn't explain fully why some people crave sugar and others don't, but it provides a previously unknown mechanism to explain that."

Cravings for foods high in sugar vary from person to person, but the reasons are still unclear, he said, noting that food preferences are influenced by the environment as well as genetics.

"We think the one variant that's associated with higher sugar consumption is associated with impaired (sugar-) sensing ability," he said.

For instance, previous studies that compared normal lab mice to those that had been genetically altered to carry the GLUT2 variant found a huge difference in behaviour between them: when liquid glucose (sugar) was injected into the rodents' brains, the normal mice stopped eating; the genetically altered animals continued to eat.

"That suggests that their brain that lacks this gene is unable to sense glucose, and they're unable to regulate their food intake," he said
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Awesome! I can blame my love of Kissables on my parents! LOL

First guy to say that with women it is obvious that all of those sweets are in their jeans gets a smack\\\.

Soooooooooo I can blame my mum for wanting sweets. Ok running and ducking looking for cover.

Here's some cover for one side of your head.

SMACK/////

Bella Angelique: ROTFLMAO

Is it possible to have several copies of that gene in your DNA?

You seem to be doing that a lot today... bad day?

You know sometimes I just can;t help myself.

So who the hell am I supposed to blame for my video game addiction? There's GOTTA be somebody!

Actually, I had more of a sweet tooth when I was younger than I do now..Although chocolate is still my fave..

Theres got to be a gene for that too

Blame Global Warming, everybody else does

kind of knew that,Its where my Diabeties comes from,rats I hate not being able to eat what I want,

I doubt I will ever outgrow my sweet tooth...I am a chocoholic, but I'm ok with that! LOL

Same here. There are worse things to be.

LOL, exactly...now where is that chocolate bar I jus tbought.....LMAO!

Imma tell my mum that when I want a candy bar.

LOL, I got it from both sides, I don't know who has a worse sweet tooth, my mom or my dad. I am hooped!

Oh gawd, I was just up at the restaurant and had this chocolate lava cake...all chocolate with oozes of chocolate seeping out the middle..Now I have a headache...I'll never learn........