rs1726866

goodMag 5.5

This is a protein-altering variant in the TAS2R38 gene.

Key Literature Trait Associations

Bitter Taste Perception (PTC/PROP)

rs1726866 is one of three key missense variants in TAS2R38 that together define whether you are a 'taster' or 'non-taster' of bitter compounds like phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) and PROP. The G allele (Val262) is part of the PAV taster haplotype; the A allele (Ala262) belongs to the AVI non-taster haplotype. AVI/AVI homozygotes barely notice the bitterness that PAV carriers find overwhelming.

Kim UK et al. “Positional cloning of the human quantitative trait locus underlying taste sensitivity to phenylthiocarbamide.” Science (new York, N.y.) 299(5610):1221-1225 (2003)

Allele A

OR —

p 1.0e-50

Large GWAS

“Phenome-wide investigation of dietary and health outcomes associated with bitter taste receptor gene TAS2R38”

Allele A

OR —

p —

N 445,779

Preliminary work

European

Coltell O et al. “Association between taste perception and adiposity in overweight or obese older subjects with metabolic syndrome and identification of novel taste-related genes.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 109(6):1709-1723 (2019)

Allele A

OR —

β 0.791 ±0.084

p 4.0e-19

N 381

Small GWAS

European

Food preference

Carriers of the bitter-sensitive A allele (PAV haplotype) show significantly altered food preferences driven by heightened bitter taste sensitivity. A large UK Biobank GWAS (n=448,890) identified rs1726866 as one of hundreds of genetic associations with dietary patterns, while a 2022 food-liking GWAS (n=161,625) linked TAS2R38 variants to grapefruit liking. The 2025 phenome-wide study confirmed PAV allele carriers prefer fewer bitter foods (horseradish, grapefruit, alcohol) and consume more tea. These associations are robustly replicated across large European cohorts but are primarily driven by the upstream effect on bitter taste perception.

Cole JB et al. “Comprehensive genomic analysis of dietary habits in UK Biobank identifies hundreds of genetic associations.” Nature Communications 11(1):1467 (2020)

Allele A

OR —

β 0.020 ±0.004

p 3.0e-8

N 448,890

Major Consortium StudyLarge GWAS

European

“Phenome-wide investigation of dietary and health outcomes associated with bitter taste receptor gene TAS2R38”

Allele A

OR —

p —

N 445,779

Preliminary work

European

May-Wilson S et al. “Large-scale GWAS of food liking reveals genetic determinants and genetic correlations with distinct neurophysiological traits.” Nature Communications 13(1):2743 (2022)

Allele A

OR —

β 0.029 ±0.002

p 7.0e-44

N 161,625

Large GWAS

European

Gastric cancer

A study of 2,616 Latin American individuals found that heterozygous carriers of rs1726866 showed reduced gastric cancer risk compared to common-allele homozygotes (P=0.003), while supertasters (PAV/PAV) had modestly elevated risk compared to medium-tasters (OR=1.63, 95% CI 1.04–2.56). No significant interaction with H. pylori cagA status was observed. The overall contribution of TAS2R38 variants to gastric cancer risk was described as modest, and this association has not been independently replicated in large GWAS.

Giaccherini M et al. “TAS2R38 polymorphisms, Helicobacter pylori infection and susceptibility to gastric cancer and premalignant gastric lesions.” European Journal of Cancer Prevention : the Official Journal of the European Cancer Prevention Organisation (ecp) (2022)

Allele A

OR 1.63

p 3.3e-2

N 2,616

Preliminary work

Latin American

Smoking behavior

In a cohort of 1,007 German Sorbs, carriers of at least one PAV allele (which includes the rs1726866 A allele) smoked significantly fewer cigarettes per day compared to AVI/AVI non-tasters (P=0.002). This association is consistent with the hypothesis that heightened bitter taste sensitivity discourages tobacco consumption, as cigarette smoke contains bitter compounds. The finding has not been formally replicated in large GWAS and should be considered preliminary.

Keller M et al. “TAS2R38 and its influence on smoking behavior and glucose homeostasis in the German Sorbs.” Plos One (2013)

Allele A

OR —

p 2.0e-3

N 1,007

Preliminary work

European

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GWAS Catalog Trait Associations (3)

Genome-wide significant associations (p < 5×10⁻⁸) from the NHGRI-EBI GWAS Catalog.

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ClinVar annotation

Benign★☆☆☆

2 submitters2 publications

Phenylthiocarbamide tasting; not provided

View on ClinVar →

Gene information from NCBI Gene. Variant classifications from ClinVar.

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