Reducing Calorie Intake May Not Help You Lose Body Weight

Background Previously a meta-analysis found that multi-vitamin/mineral supplementation reduced mild psychiatric symptoms. To establish mechanisms, and to pin-point the individuals most likely to benefit, the role of various polymorphisms were examined. Supplementation was found to influence mild-psychiatric symptoms depending on the form of particular genes: genes that are risk factors for psychiatric disease and influence mechanisms by which drugs act. Methods In a double-blind trial young healthy males rated psychiatric symptoms, before and after taking vitamin/mineral supplements for three months, and the response was related to single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with catecholamines and serotonin. Outcomes With rs1800497 (Taq1A; dopamine D2 receptor), those with the CT allele benefitted from a vitamin/mineral supplement. Similarly with rs1800955 (DRD4 – dopamine D4 receptor), the mood of those with the CC allele benefitted selectively. With rs6296 (HTR1B) only those with the GC alleles responded, and with rs6311 (HTR2A) supplementation produced a beneficial response in those with the GG allele. With rs1050565 (5HTT gene - Human Serotonin Transporter gene) supplementation increased the mental health of those with the AA allele. Interpretation In a situation where a substantial proportion of patients do not benefit from drug therapy, and there is an element of trial and error when prescribing, it was proposed that future work should consider distinguishing patients depending on various polymorphisms and micro-nutrient status. In those with particular alleles, we should consider if drug administration and vitamin / mineral status interact synergistically to influence the therapeutic outcom

A dual-process psychobiological model of temperament predicts liking and wanting for food and trait disinhibition

A dual-process model of temperament, incorporating the Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS), Behavioural Activation System (BAS) and effortful control (EC), may help to predict hedonic responses to palatable food and trait disinhibition. Purpose This study aimed to determine if the BIS, BAS and EC predicted liking and wanting for high-fat, sweet foods in adults with overweight and obesity, and if collectively, these variables predicted the eating behaviour trait of Disinhibition. Methods 168 adults (104 females, mean BMI = 33.3 kg/m2) completed the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire, the Carver and White BIS/BAS scales, the Adult Temperament Questionnaire-Effortful Control Scale – Short Form and the Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire. The strength of the BIS, BAS and EC in predicting wanting and liking for high-fat sweet foods, and trait Disinhibition was assessed using hierarchical multiple regression. Results Both the BIS and EC predicted liking, F (6, 161) = 5.05, p < .001, R2 = 0.16, and EC inversely predicted wanting, F (6, 161) = 3.28, p = .005, R2 = 0.11. The BIS, EC and liking predicted, F (8, 159) = 11.0, p < .001, R2 = 0.36, and explained 36% of Disinhibition. The BAS did not predict wanting, liking or Disinhibition. Conclusions These results demonstrate that a sensitive BIS and a lower level of effortful control predicts food reward and Disinhibition in overweight and obese adults. Consequently, interventions that aim to increase effortful control and reduce BIS reactivity may be beneficial for reducing hedonically motivated, disinhibited eating behaviour

Brain microglia in psychiatric disorders

Summary The role of immune activation in psychiatric disorders has attracted considerable attention over the past two decades, contributing to the rise of a new era for psychiatry. Microglia, the macrophages of the brain, are progressively becoming the main focus of the research in this field. In this Review, we assess the literature on microglia activation across different psychiatric disorders, including post-mortem and in-vivo studies in humans and experimental studies in animals. Although microglia activation has been noted in all types of psychiatric disorder, no association was seen with specific diagnostic categories. Furthermore, the findings from these studies highlight that not all psychiatric patients have microglial activation. Therefore, the cause of the neuroinflammation in these cohorts and its implications are unclear. We discuss psychosocial stress as one of the main factors determining microglial activation in patients with psychiatric disorders, and explore the relevance of these findings for future treatment strategies