Genetic Variants and Anorexia Nervosa
Author Information
Author(s): Timo Dirk Müller, Kathrin Reichwald, Günter Brönner, Jeanette Kirschner, Thuy Trang Nguyen, André Scherag, Wolfgang Herzog, Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann, Peter Lichtner, Thomas Meitinger, Matthias Platzer, Helmut Schäfer, Johannes Hebebrand, Anke Hinney
Primary Institution: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
Hypothesis
Are genetic variants in the endocannabinoid system associated with anorexia nervosa?
Conclusion
Genetic variations in the CNR1, FAAH, NAAA, and MGLL genes do not play a major role in the etiology of anorexia nervosa in the studied groups.
Supporting Evidence
- The study found no evidence for an association of the analyzed SNPs with anorexia nervosa.
- The lowest p-value observed was 0.11 for the A-allele of the CNR1 SNP rs1049353.
- Further genotyping in an independent case-control study could not substantiate the initial trend for association.
- Genetic variations in the endocannabinoid system were previously suggested to be implicated in the etiology of anorexia nervosa.
Takeaway
The study looked at whether certain genes related to the endocannabinoid system are linked to anorexia nervosa, but found no connection.
Methodology
The study analyzed genetic variants in patients with anorexia nervosa and their parents using transmission disequilibrium tests and case-control studies.
Limitations
The sample size may have been too small to detect a true effect, and other genetic variants not analyzed could contribute to anorexia nervosa.
Participant Demographics
The study included 204 patients with anorexia nervosa, with a mean age of 22.13 years and a mean BMI of 16.46 kg/m2.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 1.00 for the association of rs1049353
Confidence Interval
95% CI 47%...70% for the A-allele of rs1049353
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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