Interaction Effect between Physical Activity and the BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism on Depression in Women from the PISMA-ep Study

Juan Antonio Zarza-Rebollo, Esther Molina, Elena López-Isac, Ana M. Pérez-Gutiérrez, Blanca Gutiérrez, Jorge A. Cervilla and Margarita Rivera
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Juan Antonio Zarza-Rebollo: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Esther Molina: Institute of Neurosciences, Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
Elena López-Isac: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Ana M. Pérez-Gutiérrez: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Blanca Gutiérrez: Institute of Neurosciences, Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
Jorge A. Cervilla: Institute of Neurosciences, Biomedical Research Centre, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
Margarita Rivera: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: The relationship between depression and the Val66Met polymorphism at the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene ( BDNF ), has been largely studied. It has also been related to physical activity, although the results remain inconclusive. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between this polymorphism, depression and physical activity in a thoroughly characterised sample of community-based individuals from the PISMA-ep study. A total of 3123 participants from the PISMA-ep study were genotyped for the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism, of which 209 had depression. Our results are in line with previous studies reporting a protective effect of physical activity on depression, specifically in light intensity. Interestingly, we report a gene-environment interaction effect in which Met allele carriers of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism who reported more hours of physical activity showed a decreased prevalence of depression. This effect was observed in the total sample (OR = 0.95, 95%CI = 0.90–0.99, p = 0.027) and was strengthened in women (OR = 0.93, 95%CI = 0.87–0.98, p = 0.019). These results highlight the potential role of physical activity as a promising therapeutic strategy for preventing and adjuvant treatment of depression and suggest molecular and genetic particularities of depression between sexes.

Keywords: depression; physical activity; BDNF; Val66Met; rs6265 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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