scholarly journals The Role of the Gut Microbiome, Immunity, and Neuroinflammation in the Pathophysiology of Eating Disorders

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 500
Author(s):  
Michael J. Butler ◽  
Alexis A. Perrini ◽  
Lisa A. Eckel

There is a growing recognition that both the gut microbiome and the immune system are involved in a number of psychiatric illnesses, including eating disorders. This should come as no surprise, given the important roles of diet composition, eating patterns, and daily caloric intake in modulating both biological systems. Here, we review the evidence that alterations in the gut microbiome and immune system may serve not only to maintain and exacerbate dysregulated eating behavior, characterized by caloric restriction in anorexia nervosa and binge eating in bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, but may also serve as biomarkers of increased risk for developing an eating disorder. We focus on studies examining gut dysbiosis, peripheral inflammation, and neuroinflammation in each of these eating disorders, and explore the available data from preclinical rodent models of anorexia and binge-like eating that may be useful in providing a better understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying eating disorders. Such knowledge is critical to developing novel, highly effective treatments for these often intractable and unremitting eating disorders.

Metabolites ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Santos Ferreira ◽  
Christopher Hübel ◽  
Moritz Herle ◽  
Mohamed Abdulkadir ◽  
Ruth Loos ◽  
...  

Eating disorders are severe illnesses characterized by both psychiatric and metabolic factors. We explored the prospective role of metabolic risk in eating disorders in a UK cohort (n = 2929 participants), measuring 158 metabolic traits in non-fasting EDTA-plasma by nuclear magnetic resonance. We associated metabolic markers at 7 years (exposure) with risk for anorexia nervosa and binge-eating disorder (outcomes) at 14, 16, and 18 years using logistic regression adjusted for maternal education, child’s sex, age, body mass index, and calorie intake at 7 years. Elevated very low-density lipoproteins, triglycerides, apolipoprotein-B/A, and monounsaturated fatty acids ratio were associated with lower odds of anorexia nervosa at age 18, while elevated high-density lipoproteins, docosahexaenoic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio, and fatty acid unsaturation were associated with higher risk for anorexia nervosa at 18 years. Elevated linoleic acid and n-6 fatty acid ratios were associated with lower odds of binge-eating disorder at 16 years, while elevated saturated fatty acid ratio was associated with higher odds of binge-eating disorder. Most associations had large confidence intervals and showed, for anorexia nervosa, different directions across time points. Overall, our results show some evidence for a role of metabolic factors in eating disorders development in adolescence.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Norma Cipatli Ayuzo del Valle ◽  
◽  
Laura Leticia Zavala ◽  
Brenda Ayuzo ◽  
Victoria Villafuerte ◽  
...  

Introduction: eating disorders are serious illnesses with genetic and neurobiological bases where the main organs affected are the gastrointestinal tract and the neurologic system making important the role of the microbiome. Objectives: summarize the results of the latest microbiome research that could be future tools in the management of eating disorders. Materials and methods: umbrella review of pubmed publications in humans of the last 10 years regarding microbiome and eating disorders. Results: since the discovery of the microbiome and the function on the cerebral-intestinal axis, through pathways such as vagal nerve, neurotransmitters and immune system, related to symptoms presented on anorexic patients. Conclusions: psychobiotics, live organisms that when ingested in adequate amounts produce health benefits in patients suffering from psychiatric illnesses are the new topic of future research in eating disorders.


2019 ◽  
Vol 216 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moritz Herle ◽  
Bianca De Stavola ◽  
Christopher Hübel ◽  
Mohamed Abdulkadir ◽  
Diana Santos Ferreira ◽  
...  

BackgroundEating behaviours in childhood are considered as risk factors for eating disorder behaviours and diagnoses in adolescence. However, few longitudinal studies have examined this association.AimsWe investigated associations between childhood eating behaviours during the first ten years of life and eating disorder behaviours (binge eating, purging, fasting and excessive exercise) and diagnoses (anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, purging disorder and bulimia nervosa) at 16 years.MethodData on 4760 participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children were included. Longitudinal trajectories of parent-rated childhood eating behaviours (8 time points, 1.3–9 years) were derived by latent class growth analyses. Eating disorder diagnoses were derived from self-reported, parent-reported and objectively measured anthropometric data at age 16 years. We estimated associations between childhood eating behaviours and eating disorder behaviours and diagnoses, using multivariable logistic regression models.ResultsChildhood overeating was associated with increased risk of adolescent binge eating (risk difference, 7%; 95% CI 2 to 12) and binge eating disorder (risk difference, 1%; 95% CI 0.2 to 3). Persistent undereating was associated with higher anorexia nervosa risk in adolescent girls only (risk difference, 6%; 95% CI, 0 to 12). Persistent fussy eating was associated with greater anorexia nervosa risk (risk difference, 2%; 95% CI 0 to 4).ConclusionsOur results suggest continuities of eating behaviours into eating disorders from early life to adolescence. It remains to be determined whether childhood eating behaviours are an early manifestation of a specific phenotype or whether the mechanisms underlying this continuity are more complex. Findings have the potential to inform preventative strategies for eating disorders.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2448
Author(s):  
Sara Palmieri ◽  
Giovanni Mansueto ◽  
Simona Scaini ◽  
Gabriele Caselli ◽  
Walter Sapuppo ◽  
...  

The role of worry and rumination in eating disorders (EDs) is controversial. This meta-analysis of the literature is aimed at clarifying the relationship between repetitive negative thinking (RNT) and EDs. In accordance with the PRISMA criteria, a comprehensive search of the literature was conducted on PubMed and PsycInfo from inception to March 2021. Search terms: “eating disorder/anorexia/bulimia/binge eating disorder” AND “worry/rumination/brooding/repetitive thinking”. A manual search of reference lists was also run. Forty-three studies were included. RNT was found to be associated with anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. A moderating effect was found for “presence/absence ED diagnosis” and “subtype of ED symptom”. ED patients showed higher RNT than the general population. No differences were observed for age or between worry and rumination in the magnitude of their association with EDs.


2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (11) ◽  
pp. 1923-1928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shirley B. Wang ◽  
Payton J. Jones ◽  
Melissa Dreier ◽  
Haley Elliott ◽  
Carlos M. Grilo

AbstractBackgroundMental disorders may emerge as the result of interactions between observable symptoms. Such interactions can be analyzed using network analysis. Several recent studies have used network analysis to examine eating disorders, indicating a core role of overvaluation of weight and shape. However, no studies to date have applied network models to binge-eating disorder (BED), the most prevalent eating disorder.MethodsWe constructed a cross-sectional graphical LASSO network in a sample of 788 individuals with BED. Symptoms were assessed using the Eating Disorders Examination Interview. We identified core symptoms of BED using expected influence centrality.ResultsOvervaluation of shape emerged as the symptom with the highest centrality. Dissatisfaction with weight and overvaluation of weight also emerged as highly central symptoms. On the other hand, behavioral symptoms such as binge eating, eating in secret, and dietary restraint/restriction were less central. The network was stable, allowing for reliable interpretations (centrality stability coefficient = 0.74).ConclusionsOvervaluation of shape and weight emerged as core symptoms of BED. This trend is consistent with past network analyses of eating disorders more broadly, as well as literature that suggests a primary role of shape and weight concerns in BED. Although DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for BED does not currently include a cognitive criterion related to body image or shape/weight overvaluation, our results provide support for including shape/weight overvaluation as a diagnostic specifier.


Author(s):  
Susan McElroy ◽  
Anna I. Guerdjikova ◽  
Nicole Mori ◽  
Paul E. Keck

This chapter addresses the pharmacotherapy of the eating disorders (EDs). Many persons with EDs receive pharmacotherapy, but pharmacotherapy research for EDs has lagged behind that for other major mental disorders. This chapter first provides a brief rationale for using medications in the treatment of EDs. It then reviews the data supporting the effectiveness of specific medications or medication classes in treating patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), and other potentially important EDs, such as night eating syndrome (NES). It concludes by summarizing these data and suggesting future areas for research in the pharmacotherapy of EDs.


Author(s):  
Susan L. McElroy ◽  
Anna I. Guerdjikova ◽  
Anne M. O’Melia ◽  
Nicole Mori ◽  
Paul E. Keck

Many persons with eating disorders (EDs) receive pharmacotherapy, but pharmacotherapy research for EDs has lagged behind that for other major mental disorders. In this chapter, we first provide a brief rationale for using medications in the treatment of EDs. We then review the data supporting the effectiveness of specific medications or medication classes in treating patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder (BED), and other potentially important EDs, such as night eating syndrome (NES) and sleep-related eating disorder (SRED). We conclude by summarizing these data and suggesting future areas for research in the pharmacotherapy of EDs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Grogan ◽  
Hannah O’Daly ◽  
Jessica Bramham ◽  
Mary Scriven ◽  
Caroline Maher ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Resilience research to date has been criticised for its consideration of resilience as a personal trait instead of a process, and for identifying individual factors related to resilience with no consideration of the ecological context. The overall aim of the current study was to explore the multi-level process through which adults recovering from EDs develop resilience, from the perspectives of clients and clinicians. The objective of this research was to outline the stages involved in the process of developing resilience, which might help to inform families and services in how best to support adults with EDs during their recovery. Method Thirty participants (15 clients; 15 clinicians) took part in semi-structured interviews, and responded to questions relating to factors associated with resilience. Using an inductive approach, data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results The overarching theme which described the process of developing resilience was ‘Bouncing back to being me’, which involved three stages: ‘Who am I without my ED?’, ‘My eating disorder does not define me’, and ‘I no longer need my eating disorder’. Twenty sub-themes were identified as being involved in this resilience process, thirteen of which required multi-level involvement. Conclusion This qualitative study provided a multi-level resilience framework for adults recovering from eating disorders, that is based on the experiences of adults with eating disorders and their treating clinicians. This framework provided empirical evidence that resilience is an ecological process involving an interaction between internal and external factors occurring between adults with eating disorder and their most immediate environments (i.e. family and social). Plain English summary Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder demonstrate high rates of symptom persistence across time and poor prognosis for a significant proportion of individuals affected by these disorders, including health complications and increased risk of mortality. Many researchers have attempted to explore how to improve recovery outcomes for this population. Eating disorder experts have emphasised the need to focus not only on the weight indicators and eating behaviours that sustain the eating disorder during recovery, but also on the psychological well-being of the person recovering. One way to achieve this is to focus on resilience, which was identified as a fundamental aspect of eating disorder recovery in previous research. This study conceptualises resilience as a dynamic process that is influenced not only at a personal level but also through the environment in which the person lives. This study gathered data from adults with eating disorders and their treating clinicians, to devise a framework for resilience development for adults recovering from eating disorders. The paper discussed ways in which these findings and the framework identified can be easily implemented in clinical practice to facilitate a better understanding of eating disorder resilience and to enhance recovery outcomes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 601-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trevor Steward ◽  
Gemma Mestre-Bach ◽  
Cristina Vintró-Alcaraz ◽  
Zaida Agüera ◽  
Susana Jiménez-Murcia ◽  
...  

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