Disordered eating in early childhood: DRD2 and COMT gene polymorphisms and behavioral features in family trios.

Esterina Pascale, Silvia Cimino, Luca Cerniglia, Cristiano Giuliani, Arturo Bevilacqua

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Article in Eating and weight disorders : EWD, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 authors.

Esterina PascaleDepartment of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7293-3828

Silvia CiminoDepartment of Dynamic, Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4813-0093

Luca CernigliaFaculty of Psychology, International Telematic University Uninettuno, 00186, Rome, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6115-288X

Cristiano GiulianiDepartment of Dynamic, Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-0485-2528

Arturo BevilacquaDepartment of Dynamic, Clinical Psychology and Health Studies, Systems Biology Group Lab, The Experts Group On Inositols in Basic and Clinical Research (EGOI), Sapienza University of Rome, via dei Marsi 78, 00185, Rome, Italy. arturo.bevilacqua@uniroma1.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8889-2634

Funding

Sapienza Università di Roma RD12318AAABE3A08Sapienza Università di Roma RM12117A584F7580

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis study examined the association between dopaminergic genetic variants and environmental factors in young children with disordered eating and their parents.

methodsSingle nucleotide polymorphisms of DRD2 (rs1800497) and COMT (rs4680) were analyzed in 57 undereating, 51 overeating, and 44 control children, and in their parents. The quality of mother-child interactions during feeding was evaluated by the Italian adaptation of the scale for the assessment of feeding interaction. Child externalizing, internalizing and dysregulation symptoms were assessed with the child behavior checklist, and parental psychological distress with the General Severity Index. Data were analyzed by χ2 tests, ANOVAs, and odds ratios.

resultsChildren's undereating was associated with their DRD2 polymorphism; under- and over-eating patterns with DRD2 and COMT polymorphisms, including a gene x gene interaction. Eating behavior was strongly associated with the quality of mother-child interaction but not associated with parent's genotypes. Finally, parent's psychological distress correlated with children's eating behavior but not with genetic variables.

conclusionsOur findings suggest that DRD2 and COMT polymorphisms contribute to early vulnerability to disordered eating, while mother-child relational dynamics act independently of parental genetic factors. Level of evidence III Evidence obtained from well-designed case-control analytic study.

Indexed as

Catechol O-MethyltransferaseChild BehaviorFeeding and Eating DisordersFeeding BehaviorPolymorphism, Single NucleotideReceptors, Dopamine D2Case-Control StudiesChildChild, PreschoolFemaleGene-Environment InteractionGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenotypeHumansMaleMother-Child RelationsCatechol O-MethyltransferaseCOMT protein, humanDRD2 protein, humanReceptors, Dopamine D2ChildrenCOMT rs4680Disordered eatingDRD2 rs1800497Eating disordersMother–child interaction

Identifiers

PMID41511603

DOI10.1007/s40519-025-01810-8

PMCPMC12876069

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND

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