The Leu72Met polymorphism of the ghrelin gene is significantly associated with binge eating disorder.
OBJECTIVE
The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying binge eating disorder are poorly understood. Evidence exists for the fact that abnormalities in peptides involved in the regulation of appetite, including ghrelin, may play a role in binge eating behavior. Genes involved in the ghrelin physiology may therefore contribute to the biological vulnerability to binge eating disorder.


METHODS
We examined whether two polymorphisms of the ghrelin gene, the G152A (Arg51Gln) and C214A (Leu72Met), were associated with binge eating disorder. Ninety obese or nonobese women with binge eating disorder and 119 normal weight women were genotyped at the ghrelin gene.


RESULTS
Statistical analyses showed that the Leu72Met ghrelin gene variant was significantly more frequent in binge eating disorder patients (chi2=5.940; d.f.=1, P=0.01) and was associated with a moderate, but significant risk to develop binge eating disorder (odds ratio=2.725, 95% confidence interval: 1.168-6.350).


CONCLUSIONS
Although these data should be regarded as preliminary because of the small sample size, they suggest that the Leu72Met ghrelin gene variant may contribute to the genetic susceptibility to binge eating disorder.
Monteleone
Palmiero
P
Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Naples, Italy. monteri@tin.it
Tortorella
Alfonso
A
Castaldo
Eloisa
E
Di Filippo
Carmela
C
Maj
Mario
M
D000328:Adult; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D002032:Bulimia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D054439:Ghrelin; D006801:Humans; D007930:Leucine; D008715:Methionine; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012016:Reference Values
D017931:DNA Primers; D054439:Ghrelin; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D004247:DNA; D008715:Methionine; D007930:Leucine