No association of the neuropeptide Y (Leu7Pro) and ghrelin gene (Arg51Gln, Leu72Met, Gln90Leu) single nucleotide polymorphisms with eating disorders.

Background: Genetic factors likely contribute to the biological vulnerability of eating disorders. Aims: Case--control association study on one neuropeptide Y gene (Leu7Pro) polymorphism and three ghrelin gene (Arg51Gln, Leu72Met and Gln90Leu) polymorphisms. Methods: 114 eating disorder patients (46 with anorexia nervosa, 30 with bulimia nervosa, 38 with binge eating disorder) and 164 healthy controls were genotyped. Results: No differences were detected between patients and controls for any of the four polymorphisms in allele frequency and genotype distribution ( P > 0.05). Allele frequencies and genotypes had no significant influence on body mass index ( P > 0.05) in eating disorder patients. Conclusion: Positive findings of former case--control studies of associations between ghrelin gene polymorphisms and eating disorders could not be replicated. Neuropeptide Y gene polymorphisms have not been investigated in eating disorders before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]