Genetic association analysis of 5-HTR2A gene variants in eating disorders in a Mexican population

Introduction The 5-HTR2A gene has been implicated as candidate gene for eating disorders. The aim of the present study was to analyze the association of rs6311 and rs6313 polymorphisms of 5-HTR2A gene with eating disorders in Mexican population, and to evaluate if the polymorphisms of 5-HTR2A gene were associated with comorbidities in eating behavior. Methods We conducted a case-control analysis with 460 subjects. We included 168 patients with eating disorders and 292 controls; two polymorphisms of 5-HTR2A gene were genotyped. We assessed the association by allele, genotype, and inheritance models. Psychiatric comorbidities were analyzed by genotype in patients with eating disorders. Results We found an association between rs6311 and eating disorders in a Mexican population by allele (OR = 8.09; 95% CI = 5.99-11.03; p = 2.2e-16) and genotype (OR = 76.14; 95% CI = 35.61-177.18; p = 2.2e-16). Individuals who carried GG genotype showed increased risk for suicide attempted (OR = 2.14; CI = 1.10-4.26; p = 0.035) as comorbidity associated with eating disorders. No positive associations were observed for rs6313 polymorphism. Conclusion Our results showed an association of rs6311 (A1438G) polymorphism of 5-HTR2A gene with eating disorders, and these polymorphic variants could increase the risk of psychiatric comorbidities. However, more studies are required to replicate the results and to reach to a conclusive association between eating disorders and rs6311.