09/30/2025
By Sachelly Julian-Serrano

The Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, invites you to attend a doctoral dissertation defense by Sachelly Julián-Serrano, MHSN, RD on “Exploring the Genetics of Sweet Taste with Dietary Intake and Cardiometabolic Health in Puerto Ricans.”

Candidate Name: Sachelly Julián-Serrano, MHSN, RD
Degree: Doctoral
Defense Date: Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025
Time: 2 – 4 p.m.
Location: Virtual via Zoom

Thesis/Dissertation Title: “Exploring the Genetics of Sweet Taste with Dietary Intake and Cardiometabolic Health in Puerto Ricans”

Committee:

  • Advisor: Katherine L. Tucker, Ph.D., Department of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Sabrina E. Noel Ph.D. R.D., Department of Public Health and Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Kelsey Mangano Ph.D. R.D., Department of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Wenjun Li Ph.D., Department of Public Health, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Brief Abstract:
Food preference and choice are highly influenced by taste. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified genetic variants associated with sweet taste sensitivity and detection. This dissertation aims to examine associations between sweet taste polygenic score (PGS), an aggregate measure of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) effects from previous GWAS, with 1) diet quality indices (Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, and Mediterranean Diet), (2) dietary total sugars and subtypes (monosaccharides, and disaccharides) in the diet, and 3) cardiometabolic health traits associated with cardiovascular disease.

Data from the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (BPRHS) with participants aged 45-75 years, with complete PGS information was used. A weighted sweet taste PGS was derived using 38 SNPs identified from previous GWAS. Dietary information, used for diet quality and sugar outcomes, was obtained using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Cross-sectional data (Aims 1 through 3) and longitudinal data (Aim 3) to investigate the associations between the sweet-taste PGS with dietary and cardiometabolic health outcomes were used. Multiple linear regression models adjusted for potential confounders were used to calculate associations (β) and 95% confidence intervals between the sweet taste PGS with continuous measures of diet quality (Aim 1), dietary sugar outcomes (Aim 2), and cardiometabolic health outcomes (Aim 3).

The sweet-taste PGS was significantly associated with BMI, whereas no significant associations were observed with diet quality or dietary sugar intake. No significant associations were observed between the sweet-taste PGS and 2-year changes in cardiometabolic health traits. Given that elevated BMI is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), CVD mortality, and adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes, these findings highlight the importance of considering genetic predisposition to taste sensitivity in relation to obesity risk. Future research should extend replication efforts to other populations to clarify the generalizability and potential mechanisms underlying these relationships.