Associations of CD36 rs1761667 with Fat and Umami Food Perception, Diet Quality, and BMI in Two European Studies

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Fat, a newly researched taste, has been associated with the cluster of differentiation 36 (<i>CD36)</i> gene, which codes for the CD36 receptor protein. The rs1761667 variant has been associated with fat taste sensitivity. Furthermore, umami is a well-established taste with known receptors. The combination of these tastes is common in food; nevertheless, they have not been extensively investigated together. This study aimed to assess whether <i>CD36</i> rs1761667 is associated with food liking and the perception of fat and umami foods. <b>Methods</b>: Two studies were conducted: A field study on 235 individuals from Italy and a laboratory study on 49 individuals from the UK. Data includes demographics, anthropometrics, a food liking questionnaire or a fat and umami food flavour test, dietary intake assessment, and rs1761667 genotyping. <b>Results</b>: Study 1: The rs1761667 A-allele was associated with a reduced liking for fatty and umami foods in individuals with BMI ≥ 25. Study 2: The rs1761667 A-allele was associated with an increased intensity of the umami food samples, and a significant positive association of rs1761667 with BMI and DQS was found. <b>Conclusions</b>: This study is the first to address the potential links between rs1761667, fat, umami, diet, and BMI. Further research is required to confirm these findings.