Preference for protein 'is in our genes'
Last updated at 01:00 14 June 2006
Research published by Cancer Research UK found a preference for high protein foods such as meat and fish was more influenced by genes than any other foods.
But the study of more than 200 pairs of same sex twins found environmental factors seemed to influence tastes in vegetables and desserts.
Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: "This study is important because it adds to our knowledge of understanding very young children's food preferences.
"The more we know about this, the better we can understand what leads to bad eating habits which brings them a whole range of health problems including cancer."
Previous research has shown 12,000 cases of cancer could be prevented each year in the UK if no adults were overweight.
The latest study gave questionnaires to the mothers of 103 pairs of identical twins, who share all their genes, and 111 pairs of non-identical twins, who share around only half, to highlight genetic and environmental factors in food preferences.
The mothers, whose children were aged between four and five years old, were given a list of of 77 foods in different categories.
The meat and fish category - which included beef, lamb, pork, chicken, bacon, fried fish, white fish and oily fish - showed "high heritability", researchers said.
But the dessert category, including cream, cakes, pastries, fruit pie, sponge pudding and custard, showed only moderate heritability.
And the vegetables and fruit section, which covered a range of foods from broccoli, cauliflower and mushrooms to apples, strawberries and fruit juice, showed only modest heritability.
The study also showed girls tended to like vegetables more than boys.
Professor Jane Wardle, of Cancer Research UK's health behaviour unit, who led the study, said: "This is the first study to include significant numbers of protein foods and the first to show high heritability for these.
"But it is not clear exactly what environmental factors are influential when it comes to fruit, vegetables and puddings.
"It might be that children who witness their parents show enthusiasm or distaste for certain types of vegetables or puddings are likely to follow suit.
"Or it might be that if a particular food is always available, children learn to like it - for instance, if a fruit bowl is always full of bananas children might think of them as being a favourite food."
Prof Wardle said understanding children's food likes and dislikes was important in addressing childhood obesity which could lead to a number of health problems, including cancer.
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