The interaction between 5-HTTLPR genotype and ruminative thinking on BMI.

Abstract

Negative affect or stress is often found to increase energy intake for high palatable energy-rich foods and hence weight gain. Reduced brain serotonin (5-HT) function is known to increase stress vulnerability and the risk for eating-related disturbances. A short (S) allele polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) is associated with a less efficient functioning brain serotonin system and therefore higher stress vulnerability. It has been suggested that this genotype may be directly linked to an increased risk for weight gain and/or obesity. However, a high amount of variability has been apparent in replicating such a direct gene on weight gain relationship. A most recent suggestion is that this gene by weight relationship might be moderated by an additional (cognitive) vulnerability factor involving repetitive negative thinking (rumination). Our objective was to investigate whether the S-allele of 5-HTTLPR contributes to weight gain particularly in high cognitive ruminating individuals. A total of 827 healthy young male and female college students (aged 21·3 (sd 3·0) years; BMI 16-41·7 kg/m2) were genotyped for the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and assessed for rumination (Event Related Ruminative Index) and body weight. In line with the hypothesis, a hierarchical regression model showed that higher BMI scores were observed in specifically high ruminating S'-carriers (P=0·031, f²=0·022). These results suggest that cognitive rumination may be a critical moderator of the association between 5-HTTLPR and body mass.