D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2) gene Taq1A polymorphism and the eating-related psychological traits in eating disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia) and obesity.
OBJECTIVE
Food is considered a reinforcing agent, like a variety of substances such as alcohol and other drugs of abuse that produce pleasure. Psychopathological traits related to food intake are demonstrated in eating disorders as in obesity with different genetic aspects for these diseases. Recently, the prevalence of TaqA1 allele has been associated to alcohol, drug abuse and carbohydrate preference. For this reason, the aim of this study was to evaluate if the presence of A1 allele, in eating disorders and obesity, is associated with some particular psycho-pathological characteristics.


METHODS
We studied the presence of TaqA1 in Italian subjects affected by obesity (n=71), anorexia (n=28), bulimia (n=20) and in control group (n=54). The Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI test) was used to evaluate the psychological profiles. Patients without alcohol and drugs abuse were selected (>125 ml/day).


RESULTS
The A1+ allele, both in A1/A1 and A1/A2 genotypes, was not differently distributed among disease groups; on the contrary two EDI subscales (Drive for thinness and Ineffectiveness) resulted associated with A1+ allele without effect of the eating disease or obesity.


CONCLUSIONS
These results confirm that the presence of A1+ allele is not simply related to body weight but the A1+ allele might be a marker of a genetic psychological condition in people with high risk to develop pathological eating behaviour.
Nisoli
E
E
Center for the Study and Research on Obesity, Department of Preclinical Sciences, Ospedale Sacco, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Brunani
A
A
Borgomainerio
E
E
Tonello
C
C
Dioni
L
L
Briscini
L
L
Redaelli
G
G
Molinari
E
E
Cavagnini
F
F
Carruba
M O
MO
D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000235:genetics; D002032:Bulimia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011581:Psychological Tests; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics*; D012649:Self Concept
D005819:Genetic Markers; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2