Identification of candidate gene polymorphisms in eating disorders

Abstract

Objective: to identify polyphormisms (SNPs) of the 5-HT2A, BDNF and ERâ genes in 29 patients with Eating Disorders (EDs) cared for by a specialized service and 78 healthy women. Method: age, weight, and height were collected to compute Body Mass Index; the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) was applied; and the participants’ SNPs were determined. The allele and genotype frequency of genes was computed and an analysis linking the genotypes that possessed risk alleles was performed for each gene. Results: There were significant differences in terms of age, nutritional state, and presence of risk alleles between the groups (5HT2A: OR=1.964; BDNF: OR=1.120; ERb exon 5: OR=0.751 and exon 8: OR=0.380). Conclusion: The heterogeneity of the Brazilian population, low incidence of the disease, and small sample may have influenced the results and further research is needed to clarify the role genetics play in the etiology of EDs.