Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate functional catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genetic variation as a risk factor for eating disorders (ED). Method: Eighty women receiving treatment for serious ED (52 for anorexia nervosa, 28 for bulimia nervosa) and 116 age-matched females in the control group underwent COMT genotyping for polymorphism in exon 4 (codon 158). Both the low-activity allele and the high-activity allele (H) were determined. Results: The H/H genotype was twice as frequent in the ED group as in the control group (52.5% in the ED group and 25% in controls, χ2 = 15.5, d.f. = 2, p < 0.001, odds ratio = 3.343). The H/H genotype was found in 57.7% of anorexia nervosa patients (χ2 = 16.860, p < 0.001, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium = 0.003, odds ratio = 4.202). The H allele (val) was discovered in 66.9% of ED patients in comparison to 47.8% of patients from the control group (χ2 = 13.89, p < 0.001, odds ratio = 6.088). In the anorexia group, H allele frequency was enhanced even higher (70.2 vs. 47.8%, χ2 = 14.48, p < 0.001, odds ratio = 8.175). The genotype associations in the subgroup of bulimia patients were not significant, but a trend for a higher frequency of the H allele was found (p = 0.084, odds ratio = 5.309). Conclusions: These findings seem to suggest that a turnover of catecholamines, connected with polymorphism determining high activity of COMT enzyme, is connected with the risk of ED occurrence, particularly anorexia nervosa. The risk is significantly higher for women with an allele of higher activity.

Keywords:
Eating disorders, Anorexia, Bulimia, Catechol-O-methyltransferase
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel
2006
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.