The BDNF Gene, Reward Circuits, and Emotional Eating

A mutation in BDNF can predispose you to the cycle of binging and restricting.

BDNF or brain derived neurotrophic factor, is considered to be the “brain fertilizer” protein.

This protein plays a crucial role in neural growth and cognition, but BDNF is also tightly involved in food intake and energy metabolism.

Research has found that a single nucleotide mutation in BDNF, in which an amino acid valine is substituted for a methionine, affects eating behavior and eating disorder susceptibility.

A study in Psychiatry Research found that in the adolescent females participating, the BDNF met-allele (mutation with methionine) carriers practiced extreme weight control behaviors, like reducing meal frequency and/or restriction, and engaged in significantly more binge-eating behaviors than those with the normal valine-containing variant.

It has also been found that met-allele carriers show a stronger reaction to emotional stimuli, and exhibit higher scores in reward-dependence than valine-only subjects. The theory posits that this binge-eating cycle may play into this increased reward sensitivity and the inability to delay gratification.

This mutation in BDNF is an excellent testimony for why genetic testing and nutrigenomics, the formation of dietary recommendations based on genomics, is important for long-term success.

PMID: 20537407