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01-08-2014 | Original Contribution

BDNF genetic variability modulates psychopathological symptoms in patients with eating disorders

Authors: Carmen Gamero-Villarroel, Inmaculada Gordillo, Juan Antonio Carrillo, Angustias García-Herráiz, Isalud Flores, Mercedes Jiménez, Melchora Monge, Raquel Rodríguez-López, Guillermo Gervasini

Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry | Issue 8/2014

Abstract

The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene may influence eating behavior, body weight and cognitive impairments. We aimed to investigate whether BDNF genetic variability may affect anthropometric and psychological parameters in patients with anorexia or bulimia nervosa (AN, BN) and/or modulate the risk for the disorder. A total of 169 unrelated female patients and 312 healthy controls were genotyped for two common BDNF single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), Val66Met and C-270T, and several selected tag-SNPs. Associated personality characteristics and psychopathological symptoms were assessed by the EDI-2 and SCL-90R inventories, respectively. No single SNP or haplotype played a relevant role in the risk for AN or BN. The rs16917237 TT genotype was significantly associated with increased weight (74.63 ± 16.58 vs. 57.93 ± 13.02) and body mass index (28.94 ± 6.22 vs. 22.23 ± 4.77) in the BN group after correcting for multiple testing. Haplotype analyses using a sliding window approach with three adjacent SNPs produced four loci of interest. Locus 3 (rs10835210/rs16917237/C-270T) showed a broad impact on the measured psychopathological symptoms. Haplotypes CGC and CGT in this locus correlated with scores in all three scales of the SCL-90R inventory, both in AN and BN patients. In contrast, the results of the EDI-2 inventory were largely unaffected. These preliminary results suggest that variability in the BDNF gene locus may contribute to anthropometric characteristics and also psychopathological symptoms that are common but not exclusive of ED patients.

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Title: BDNF genetic variability modulates psychopathological symptoms in patients with eating disorders
Authors: Carmen Gamero-Villarroel
Inmaculada Gordillo
Juan Antonio Carrillo
Angustias García-Herráiz
Isalud Flores
Mercedes Jiménez
Melchora Monge
Raquel Rodríguez-López
Guillermo Gervasini
Publication date: 01-08-2014
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry / Issue 8/2014
Print ISSN: 1018-8827
Electronic ISSN: 1435-165X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-013-0495-6

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

BDNF genetic variability modulates psychopathological symptoms in patients with eating disorders

Abstract

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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