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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by jrbecker on August 26, 2003, at 9:17:54
http://www.medwire.md/News_single.aspx?newstype=3&date=20030826&story_id=18776
BDNF linked to eating disorders
Biol Psychiatry 2003; 54: 485–490Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may play a role in the pathophsyiology of abnormal eating behaviors, potentially providing a biological marker for the condition, study findings indicate.
"It has been suggested that BDNF plays an essential maintenance role in the regulation of food intake through central mediators in both the basal and fasted state," observe Michiko Nakazato and colleagues, from Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan.
Consequently, they investigated whether this factor may be related to eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa (BN) and anorexia nervosa (AN).
The team evaluated eating-related psychopathology and depressive symptoms in 18 female patients with BN, 12 with AN, and 21 age-matched healthy controls, using the Bulimic Investigatory Test, Edinburgh (BITE), and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Serum BDF levels were also measured.
Compared with controls, serum levels of BDNF were significantly reduced in patients with AN or BN, at an average of 61.4 ng/ml, 24.9 ng/ml, and 38.4 ng/ml, respectively.
In all of the participants, serum BDNF levels correlated positively with body mass index. However, the team reports that serum BDNF levels of the patients with BN, who had a normal BMI, were significantly lower than those of controls, suggesting that lowered serum BDNF levels are not due to reduced BMI.
Positive correlations also existed between scores on the BITE symptom scale and the HDRS in the patients with AN or BN, but not between the BITE severity scale and the HDRS.
"Therefore it appears likely that reduced BDNF levels produce abnormal eating behavior in patients with eating disorders," the researchers conclude in the journal Biological Psychiatry.
Posted by stjames on August 26, 2003, at 23:11:54
In reply to BDNF linked to eating disorders, posted by jrbecker on August 26, 2003, at 9:17:54
> "Therefore it appears likely that reduced BDNF levels produce abnormal eating behavior in patients with eating disorders," the researchers conclude in the journal Biological Psychiatry.
>At the same time it seems there is a psychology to eating disorders. In many person with eating disorders one can find abuse in the history.
The good old chicken and the egg.
Posted by linkadge on August 27, 2003, at 6:50:46
In reply to Re: BDNF linked to eating disorders, posted by stjames on August 26, 2003, at 23:11:54
Yeah I can believe it.
Not only does high BDNF brain content help resolve depression long term. The substance
also has acute antidepressant effects.This seems to be the final common destination of all antidepressant drugs. It is perhaps likely that other BDNF enhancing substances would prove effective antidepressants.
Linkadge
Posted by Questionmark on August 28, 2003, at 23:34:47
In reply to Re: BDNF linked to eating disorders, posted by linkadge on August 27, 2003, at 6:50:46
Interesting stuff.
i think i have low BDNF levels. At risk of sounding simplistic, my appetite often is virtually nonexistent and i feel that i have been getting progressively stupider for the past few years or so (esp. in regard to memory and stuff)-- not to mention that i've been depressed out of my freaking my mind for years now. So i wonder. But anyway...
Can you offer any suggestions for trying things that might help stimulate BDNF formation/secretion? Exercise is almost definitely a good one. i've also actually read once that garlic can increase BDNF levels. Other than that-- and antidepressants that are effective for a person, which isn't really that specific-- i have no knowledge about this. Any yous could further provide would be much appreciated.
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