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CD36

Can Decreased Sensitivity to the Taste of Fats Make You Crave Fatty Foods? (CD36)

Written by Jasmine Foster, BSc, BEd on August 4th, 2020

The CD36 gene has a complex relationship with appetite and the taste of fatty foods. Could a variant of this gene be causing your cravings? Find out here.

What is CD36?

The CD36 (cluster of differentiation 36) gene encodes a receptor (CD36) that transports fatty acids into cells. As a result of this function, fats are transported into new fat cells, taken up into muscle cells for use in energy production, and absorbed from food in the gut [R].

The CD36 receptor is activated by a wide variety of compounds—including collagen, LDL cholesterol, and bacterial proteins—that can trigger an increase in CD36 receptor activity (and, thus, uptake of fats) [R].

Why Do People Crave Different Foods?

It’s no secret that different people have different food preferences and cravings—but why? And is there a genetic component?

Generally speaking, people seem to crave foods that were previously available but are currently not. So, for example, if someone with a sweet tooth tries to cut down on their sugar consumption, they often find themselves craving sweets more intensely than ever [R].

This principle expands out to caloric restriction and dieting in general: reducing the amount of food eaten will actually increase a person’s appetite, at least in the short term [R].

Sleep can also affect food cravings. One study found that women who sleep for a shorter amount of time are more vulnerable to food cravings during the day, for example [R].

Fat Addiction

Fat addiction is a term used to describe when people have uncontrollable cravings for fatty food and tend to eat it in excess amounts. The causes of fat addiction are broadly unknown but believed to be psychological; unsurprisingly, people who fixate on food and diet are more likely to develop such an addiction [R].

CD36 has been implicated in the development of fat addiction and fat cravings for some time. However, its role and mechanisms in regards to these phenomena are highly complex [R].

CD36 & Food Cravings

The CD36 receptor, which is found in taste buds, appears to specifically affect our sensitivity to the taste of fatty foods; the greater the production of CD36, the greater the sensitivity [R, R].

Based on the results of rat studies, researchers suspect that low amounts of CD36 can lead to increased intake of fatty foods, to compensate for a reduced ability to taste fat [R, R].

People with high amounts of CD36 may have increased levels of endocannabinoids, which in turn increase appetite. Thus, while low amounts of CD36 may lead to increased preference for fatty foods, high amounts of CD36 may lead to increased overall food intake [R, R].

CD36, which is found on taste buds, influences taste preferences and the development of cravings for fatty foods; people with low amounts of CD36 may be less sensitive to the taste of fats and consume more fatty foods to compensate.

CD36 Variants & Food Preferences

The CD36 receptor has a complicated relationship with diet and may affect everything from taste preferences to fat metabolism [R].

The ‘G’ allele at rs1761667 is associated with a number of metabolic changes compared to the ‘AA’ genotype. For example, people with at least one copy of the ‘G’ allele have increased levels of endocannabinoids in their blood. These natural compounds, which are similar in structure to the active components of cannabis, stimulate our appetite and increase the amount of food we want to eat. However, the ‘G’ allele is also associated with lower body mass index (BMI) [R, R, R].

The ‘A’ allele, meanwhile, is associated with reduced production of the CD36 receptor, increased preference for fatty foods, and increased BMI [R, R].

Your CD36 Results for Fat Preference

SNP Table

variant	genotype	frequency	risk allele
rs1761667

SNP Summary and Table

CD36 rs1761667

‘G’ = Associated with reduced preference for fatty food, higher appetite, higher waist to hip ratio in obese people, and lower average BMI
‘A’ = Associated with increased preference for fatty foods, lower appetite, lower waist to hip ratio in obese people, and higher average BMI
About 17% of all people worldwide have the ‘AA’ genotype.
The ‘AA’ genotype is less common in people of East Asian (8.5%) and South Asian (9.2%) descent and significantly more common in people of European (29%) and American (28%) descent.

Recommendations

If You Have a Preference for Fats

Ketogenic or Low Carb Diets

If you have the ‘AA’ genotype at rs1761667, you may produce fewer CD36 receptors and in turn have decreased sensitivity to the taste of fats. This genotype can potentially lead to increased preference for fatty foods. People with the ‘AA’ genotype may be especially well-suited to low carb or ketogenic diets that play into their preferences while also providing a number of health benefits [R, R].

Low carb diets have also been found to reduce appetite and cravings to a much greater extent than low fat diets [R].

In clinical trials, ketogenic diets have been found to help people lose weight, reduce markers of heart disease, and lower blood sugar. Other studies have suggested a broad swath of potential benefits; for a more comprehensive discussion of ketogenic diets, check out this post [R, R].

Intermittent Fasting

One method that may help prevent overconsumption of fatty foods (and consequent increases in body weight) is intermittent fasting. Different types of intermittent fasting include fasting for one or two days per week, or restricting eating to a short window of time (usually 6-8 hours) every day [R].

While traditional dieting (trying to eat less every day) tends to increase hunger, true fasting results in decreased hunger and fewer cravings. This can make intermittent fasting a good option for people struggling to control their appetite and food intake [R].

The potential benefits of fasting extend beyond controlling cravings. Clinical studies have found that people who fast have improved blood sugar, blood pressure, heart health, and metabolic health markers compared to those who do not fast [R, R, R].

Intermittent fasting may be a helpful strategy for any genotype at rs1761667 if you are struggling to control cravings. However, given its apparent usefulness regarding weight control, those with the ‘G’ allele (and a tendency toward increased appetite) may benefit most [R].

Collagen Supplements

Collagen, like fat, activates the CD36 receptor, and may help satisfy cravings for fatty foods. If you have low amounts of CD36 and difficulty regulating your intake of dietary fats, adding collagen to a smoothie may help reduce cravings [R].

Collagen also has a number of other potential benefits for joint and skin health. For more information, check out this post [R, R, R].

People with low amounts of CD36 and increased fatty food preferences may benefit from ketogenic diets, intermittent fasting, and collagen supplements to help control their intake of fats and prevent cravings.

If You Lack a Preference for Fats

People with the ‘G’ allele at rs1761667 may produce greater amounts of CD36 and have higher sensitivity to the taste of fats, but have an increased appetite overall. People with this allele may not be as well suited to low carb or ketogenic diets as those with the ‘AA’ genotype [R].

Because the ‘G’ allele tends to confer a higher appetite overall, strategies that reduce appetite may be more appropriate to prevent overeating.

Some ways to reduce appetite include:

Physical exercise, which suppresses appetite [R]
High-protein diets, which have been shown to reduce appetite in a handful of human studies [R, R, R].
Capsaicin (found in spicy peppers), which may speed up metabolism, increase energy expenditure, and reduce appetite [R, R, R, R].

People with high amounts of CD36 may be less susceptible to fat cravings but have higher appetites overall. They may benefit more from strategies that reduce appetite.

Jasmine Foster

BSc, BEd

Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.

Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.

Disclaimer

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other official medical body. This information is presented for educational purposes only, and may not be used to diagnose or treat any illness or disease.

Also keep in mind that the “Risk Score” presented in this post is based only on a select number of SNPs, and therefore only represents a small portion of your total risk as an individual. Furthermore, these analyses are based primarily on associational studies, which do not necessarily imply causation. Finally, many other (non-genetic) factors can also play a significant role in the development of a disease or health condition — therefore, carrying any of the risk-associated genotypes discussed in this post does not necessarily mean you are at increased risk of developing a major health condition.

Always consult your doctor before acting on any information or recommendations discussed in this post — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have been officially diagnosed with a medical condition.

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Content

What is CD36? Why Do People Crave Different Foods? CD36 Variants & Food Preferences Your CD36 Results for Fat Preference

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Can Decreased Sensitivity to the Taste of Fats Make You Crave Fatty Foods? (CD36)

What is CD36?

Why Do People Crave Different Foods?

Fat Addiction

CD36 & Food Cravings

CD36 Variants & Food Preferences

Your CD36 Results for Fat Preference

SNP Table

SNP Summary and Table

Recommendations

If You Have a Preference for Fats

Ketogenic or Low Carb Diets

Intermittent Fasting

Collagen Supplements

If You Lack a Preference for Fats

Disclaimer

More weight & body fat blogs

More nutrition blogs

Content

Unlock Personalized Results And So Much More!

Essential Bundle

Essential

Bundle

Ultimate Bundle

Limited Time Offer 25% Off

Individual DNA Reports

Methylation Pathway - MTHFR Test

Histamine Intolerance DNA Pathway Report

Gut Health, Digestion & IBS DNA Report

Autoimmune Disease Risk & Prevention DNA Report

See all reports

Policies

About

Navigation

Health reports