Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026
04:48
Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System
Published on: May 8, 2018
Ghrelin gene variants and eating disorders.
1Section of Stress Research, Department of Psychosomatic Research, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan. ando-t@ncnp.go.jp
Vitamins and Hormones
|April 23, 2013
Summary
Genetic variants in the ghrelin system may influence eating disorder risk. While most studies show no link, some ghrelin gene variants are associated with bulimia nervosa, and others with anorexia nervosa.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Neuroendocrinology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) have genetic links.
- The ghrelin system, involving ghrelin, growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), and ghrelin O-acyltransferase (GOAT), plays a role in appetite and body weight regulation, and its dysfunction is implicated in eating disorder pathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between genetic variants in the ghrelin system and susceptibility to eating disorders (AN and BN).
Main Methods:
- Review of candidate-gene association studies examining ghrelin, GHSR, and GOAT gene variants in relation to AN and BN.
- Analysis of findings from previous research, considering study limitations such as small sample sizes and restricted variant testing.
Main Results:
- Most studies found no significant association between ghrelin gene variants and AN or BN.
- Some evidence suggests a potential association between specific ghrelin variants and BN in Japanese populations.
- Significant associations were found for a GHSR variant with BN and a GOAT variant with AN.
Conclusions:
- The role of ghrelin-related gene variants in eating disorder predisposition requires further investigation.
- Larger studies with broader variant testing are needed to clarify the genetic underpinnings of AN and BN related to the ghrelin system.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by a cyclical pattern of binge-and-purge eating pattern. It generally involves an episode of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or fasting, to prevent weight gain. Despite often maintaining a normal weight, individuals with bulimia are intensely preoccupied with their body image and harbor an overwhelming fear of gaining weight. This can contribute to the...
01:28Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
01:23Binge Eating Disorders
Binge eating disorder is a significant mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption within a short period, accompanied by a perceived loss of control over eating behavior. Unlike occasional overeating, binge eating disorder is marked by distressing emotions such as guilt, shame, and anxiety following binge episodes. The disorder affects individuals across different ages and backgrounds, with profound implications for physical and psychological...
01:28Human Genetics
Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
01:30Regulation of Food Intake
Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...
01:20Taste Buds and Receptors
Gustation, or the sense of taste, is intrinsically linked to the anatomical structures located on the tongue. This organ's surface, along with the entirety of the oral cavity, is adorned with stratified squamous epithelium. Evident on the tongue are elevated structures known as papillae (singular = papilla), which house the mechanisms for the transduction of gustatory stimuli. Four distinct types of papillae exist, each identified by their unique morphological attributes: the circumvallate,...