Estrogen moderates genetic influences on binge eating during puberty: Disruption of normative processes?

ABSTRACT: Puberty is a critical period for changes in genetic effects for binge eating in girls. Previous twin studies show increases in genetic influences on binge eating from prepuberty (∼0%) to midpuberty and beyond (∼50%). However, little is known about the factors that drive these shifts in genetic effects. A small pilot study showed that pubertal activation of estrogen may contribute to increases in genetic influences, possibly via hormonally induced changes in gene expression. However, large-scale studies investigating hormone effects on genetic risk are lacking. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of estrogen on genetic influences for binge eating in 964 female twins (ages 8-16 years) from the Michigan State University Twin Registry. Binge eating was assessed wi

SUBMITTER: Klump KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6060616 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature