253 | id == 253
253 | category_id == 15
253 | category_order == 11
253 | category_name == Diet
253 | category_color == #C47AC0
253 | slug == DRD2-dopamine-eating-behavior
253 | title == How Dopamine Genes May Be Influencing Your Eating Behavior (DRD2)
253 | meta_description == The DRD2 gene encodes the D2 dopamine receptor, crucial for pleasure and motivation. Learn about its link with eating behavior.
253 | summary == <p>Can genes make you a &ldquo;pleasure junkie&rdquo;? Variants in the <em>DRD2</em> gene can impair dopamine signaling in the brain and greatly influence your food choices and eating behavior &mdash; read on for more details and personalized tips!</p>
253 | overall_score_text == Your Dietary Choices Score (Based on DRD2 Gene)
253 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/DRD2--Weight-Diet.jpg
253 | author_id == 9
253 | author_name == Aleksa Ristic
253 | author_title == MS (Pharmacy)
253 | author_order == 45
253 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Aleksa.jpg
253 | author_intro == <p><strong>Aleksa received his MS in Pharmacy from the University of Belgrade, his master thesis focusing on protein sources in plant-based diets.</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>    <p>Aleksa is passionate about herbal pharmacy, nutrition, and functional medicine. He found a way to merge his two biggest passions&mdash;writing and health&mdash;and use them for noble purposes. His mission is to bridge the gap between science and everyday life, helping readers improve their health and feel better.</p>
253 | reviewer_id == 14
253 | reviewer_name == Shany Lahan
253 | reviewer_title == MS (Neuroscience)
253 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
253 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
253 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
253 | publish_date == 2020
253 | publish_date == 8
253 | publish_date == 1
253 | avg_rating == 5.0
253 | tags_id == 200
253 | tags_name == Appetite
253 | tags_id == 297
253 | tags_name == Dietary fat
253 | tags_id == 465
253 | tags_name == Dietary protein
253 | tags_id == 51
253 | tags_name == Dopamine
253 | tags_id == 156
253 | tags_name == DRD2 Gene
253 | tags_id == 207
253 | tags_name == Exercise
253 | tags_id == 545
253 | tags_name == Fasting
253 | tags_id == 201
253 | tags_name == Food Cravings
253 | tags_id == 158
253 | tags_name == Motivation
253 | tags_id == 165
253 | tags_name == Obesity
253 | tags_id == 314
253 | tags_name == Sugar
253 | permissions_favorite == False
253 | permissions_rate == False
253 | content_article == <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <table style="width: 90%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" border="1" cellpadding="10"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 54px;"> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: justify; height: 54px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Note:</strong> The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">DRD2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene is mentioned in the <strong><em>DNA Wellness Reports on</em></strong>&nbsp;</span><strong><em><a href="https://get.selfdecode.com/mind-protocol-nm/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cognitive Function</a>, <a href="https://get.selfdecode.com/nm/mood/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mood</a>, and <a href="https://get.selfdecode.com/gene-reports/nm/fitness/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fitness</a></em></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">. If you're looking for comprehensive gene-based reports regarding your physical performance and mental health, make sure to check them out!</span></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">This article is for informational purposes only. None of the information here should be taken as medical advice. If you are struggling to maintain a healthy diet, be sure to consult with your doctor or dietician.</span></em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>DRD2</em>, Dopamine, and Eating Behavior</strong></h2> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The <em>DRD2</em> Gene in Dopamine Function&nbsp;</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Diagram-depicting-the-dopamine-blue-and-serotonin-pathways-red-in-the-brain-along_fig2_262675156" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img src="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Niladri_Banerjee/publication/262675156/figure/fig2/AS:202963747381256@1425401736147/Diagram-depicting-the-dopamine-blue-and-serotonin-pathways-red-in-the-brain-along.png" alt="Diagram depicting the dopamine (blue) and serotonin pathways (red) in the brain along with the respective functions of each" width="486" height="437" /></strong></a></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/dopamine/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dopamine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a crucial neurotransmitter in the brain, where it controls [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535451/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30446950"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Motivation and reward</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Creativity and cognition</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Movement</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Social and parental bonding</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="../../gene/drd2/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">DRD2 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> encodes the <em>D2 dopamine receptor</em> &mdash; one of several vital types of dopamine receptors that regulate the activity of this neurotransmitter [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27933030"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12554675"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unlike other major types of dopamine receptors, D2 receptors are <em>inhibitory</em>. This means that having more of these receptors generally results in <em>lower</em> overall dopamine activity in the brain, and vice-versa [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21303898"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30171838"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9457173"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, the situation is not always that straightforward: D2 receptor activity also enables dopamine-dependent reward pathways that make certain experiences pleasurable. </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">DRD2 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants can impair the function of D2 receptors and correlate with addictive or reward-dependent behaviors [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17453061/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25278909/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Dopamine is a neurotransmitter crucial for emotional and mental health. The <em>DRD2 </em>gene codes for the D2 receptor found mostly in our brain's reward pathways.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>D2 Receptor Function &amp; Eating Behavior</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dietary habits depend heavily on the "anticipatory" and "rewarding" effects of food. Hence, it is no surprise that dopamine plays a key role in food intake and eating behavior via D2 receptors [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5745142/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Along with substance abuse and other addictive behaviors, impairments in D2 receptor signaling can contribute to different eating disorders and influence food preferences [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21243471/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25278909/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17998440"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20348917/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26527415/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some scientists argue that addiction to tasty, energy-dense food may trigger some of the same mechanisms involved in drug addiction (albeit to a lesser extent). These highly "rewarding" foods may cause the brain to release large amounts of dopamine, which could "over-stimulate" the brain's reward pathways. Eventually, this strong, long-term dopamine stimulation could result in the reduction ("<em>down-regulation</em>") of the total number of D2 receptors in the brain [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4819757/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17998440"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">D2 dopamine receptors enable the reward pathways that influence our eating behavior and food preferences. Eating disorders and addictive behaviors have been associated with impaired D2 signaling.</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The Link Between <em>DRD2</em> Variants and Eating Behavior</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">When it comes to the genetic influences of D2 receptor function, most research has focused on one SNP: </span><a href="../../../snp/rs1800497/"><strong>rs1800497</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Studies often also mention other SNPs &mdash; such as </span><a href="../../snp/rs2283265/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs2283265</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="../../snp/rs1076560/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs1076560</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="../../snp/rs6275/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs6275</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="../../snp/rs6277"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs6277</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="../../snp/rs6279/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs6279</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and </span><a href="../../snp/rs2514218/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs2514218</span></a>&nbsp;<span style="font-weight: 400;">&mdash; but these variants are often all inherited together with the variant you carry for rs1800497, so they usually don&rsquo;t represent truly "independent" genetic factors [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18077373"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27933030"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12554675"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28507526"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Food Preferences</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to five clinical trials with over 1,300 participants, the 'A' (also known as the "A1") allele correlates with a higher preference for [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6659394/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6136368/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5022562/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29737821/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30353454/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carbohydrates (especially sugar)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fast food</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">High-fat, fried foods</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Interestingly, these effects also seem to be independent of age, gender, and ethnicity.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">One study of 26 volunteers used brain imaging to measure how the brain responded to tasty food, depending on the rs1800497 variant each participant carried. When given a delicious milkshake, all participants rated its tastiness similarly &mdash; but those carrying the 'A' allele showed a blunted (weaker) response in the reward system [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2831082/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">People with rs1800497-A crave tasty, energy-dense foods <span style="font-weight: 400;">&mdash;</span> but the feelings of "reward" they experience upon consumption may be relatively weaker.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Eating Behavior</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Among 394 Malaysian adults, those with the 'A' allele were more prone to uncontrolled eating [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29737821/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. Similarly, in a trial of 279 Dutch adolescents, this variant correlated with emotional eating in response to high psychological control from parents [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19925838/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In two smaller studies, rs1800497-A correlated with high food reinforcement, which means people with this allele were willing to work harder to obtain food they liked. Consequently, they ultimately consumed significantly more calories than people with other alleles [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15213032/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2213752/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">This same genetic variant has been associated with other dopamine-related issues, such as eating disorders, substance abuse, and impulsive behavior [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22579533/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22683321/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8974314/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2706288/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">rs1800497-A has been associated with increased food cravings, emotional eating, and sometimes even the development of eating disorders.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Obesity &amp; Weight Maintenance</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The link between rs1800497 and obesity has been a topic of intense research, although some of this work has produced conflicting results.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to a large meta-analysis of 33 trials, there was no strong or consistent correlation between this variant and <em>body mass index</em> (BMI). However, people with the 'A' allele may not respond well to (or comply with) weight-loss interventions, possibly due to increased impulsivity making it harder for them to make healthy food choices [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4819757/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In one study, rs1800497-A showed a much stronger correlation with obesity among people with substance use disorders [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8873216/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The link between rs1800497 and obesity is not straightforward and likely depends on other factors, such as impulsive behavior and/or predispositions toward substance abuse and other dopamine-related issues.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>How It Works: The Two Faces of Dopamine</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs1800497 is found in the gene </span><a href="../../../gene/ankk1/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">ANKK1</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which controls the activity of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">DRD2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene. The 'A' ("A1") allele correlates with a 30% lower number ("density") of D2 receptors [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8199600/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4819757/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2069496/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the primary suggested mechanism, reduced D2 density may hinder the reward system. This could cause people with rs1800497-A to overeat, and/or choose high-fat and high-sugar foods to compensate for the relative lack of pleasure they experience when eating other, healthier foods [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21243471/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10881203/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2681095/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, the D2 dopamine receptors are inhibitory, so their lower density implies higher overall dopamine levels [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15900211"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18077373"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26474929"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. While this might seem counter-intuitive, some authors have suggested that &mdash; contrary to popular belief &mdash; dopamine might not be responsible for making us feel "pleasure" from rewards <em>per se</em> &mdash; instead, dopamine makes us "want" the reward. Thus, excessive dopamine activity could actually cause a vicious cycle of food-craving, due to increased motivation for tasty food [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1920543/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The rs1800497 variant significantly reduces D2 dopamine receptor density in the brain. This may impair the reward system, and could pave the way for "addictive" behavior by contributing to greatly increased motivation for eating unhealthy foods.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>Food for Thought: </em></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Research of dopamine-dependent reward mechanisms has led some scientists to ask a fundamental question: Is modern society turning us into "mindless pleasure junkies"? In support of this idea, these authors have pointed to the fact that people may becoming more and more addicted to short-term dopamine-boosting experiences, while neglecting "longer-term" concerns such as overall prosperity, health, and well-being [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28469018"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">We'll return back to this intruiging idea later on, so keep reading for a potential solution these authors are offering!</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Your <em>DRD2</em> Results for Eating Behavior</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*4633560457959741*</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>SNP Summary</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNP:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="../../../snp/rs1800497/"><strong>rs1800497</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">'G' ("A2") allele = not associated with eating behavior</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">'A' ("A1") allele = associated with overeating, emotional eating, and unhealthy food choices</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Population Frequency</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Around 33% of European descendants carry the 'A' allele. However, this variant is up to twice as common among East Asian and African populations (64-65%).</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">*4022230141129288*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Recommendations to Better Control Eating Behavior</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">You may try the complementary approaches listed below if you and your doctor determine that they could be appropriate for you. Remember that none of them should ever be done in place of what your doctor recommends or prescribes.</span></em></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">*7508749825359706*</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Limit Intake of Sugar &amp; Processed Carbs</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">As we discussed previously, people who carry the 'A' allele for rs1800497 tend to crave carb- and sugar-rich foods. Refined sugar, in particular, is highly addictive &mdash; and may even trigger some of the same neural pathways as addictive drugs [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2235907/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. Additionally, some studies have reported that animals fed high-sugar diets show reduced D2 receptor activity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11733709/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11733709/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is important to note that refined carbohydrate sources &mdash; such as white flour &mdash; have a high <em>glycemic index</em>, which means they quickly turn into sugar in your body, and can cause a potentially dangerous "spike" in blood sugar levels [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20234030/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Excess sugar consumption can be one of your worst enemies when it comes to weight control, and is one of the single-most common factors that can lead to obesity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2862465/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6959843/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Avoid High-Fat Diets</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Animals fed high-fat diets have reduced D2 receptor activity [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26527415/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3700634/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">People with rs1800497-A crave fried and fast foods, which are very often loaded with fat. Additionally, these unhealthy foods may also further impair the brain's reward system, leading to a vicious cycle of habitual fast-food consumption [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6659394/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6136368/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5022562/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4850606/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A combination of fat and sugar &mdash; typical for fast foods and snacks &mdash; is particularly dangerous, as added sugar actually <em>reduces</em> the satiating effects of consuming fat [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK53552/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">With that said, this doesn't mean you go to the other extreme and avoid consuming fats altogether! Unlike refined sugar, fats are essential and healthy &mdash; as long as they are consumed in moderation. Although heavily marketed, so-called "low-fat" products often compensate for reduced fat with high levels of added sugar and starches, and therefore are not necessarily a "healthier" alternative [<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4742721/">R</a>].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">When in doubt, always check the nutritional labels of the food you're eating &mdash; you may be surprised at just how unhealthy some "low-fat" products can be!</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">To potentially counteract your negative <em>DRD2</em> variants and reduce food cravings, avoid highly-processed and "fast" foods, which are often very high in sugar and fat.</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Increase Protein Intake</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rats fed a low-protein diet had lower D2 receptor density in their brains [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1349715/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. Dietary protein has a more potent satiating effect than carbs and fat, and may therefore help keep the reward system balanced and "well-tuned" [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3649463/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Additional studies also suggest that getting more calories from protein may support weight loss, metabolism, and promote appropriate feelings of "fullness" after eating [</span><a href="http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/82/1/41.abstract"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10193874"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10375057"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Therefore, it may be a good idea to consume a variety of protein-rich foods, such as [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26797090/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Eggs</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meat &amp; fish</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Legumes</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cheese (if not sensitive)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nuts &amp; seeds</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Protein-rich foods also supply <em>tyrosine</em>, the main amino acid our body and brain uses to create the neurotransmitter dopamine. However, it is still unclear whether dietary protein intake has a noticeable or significant impact on the levels of dopamine the brain is capable of producing [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17513421/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Increase your intake of dietary protein to balance the reward system, reduce appetite, and improve weight control.</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Intermittent Fasting</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to some sources, different types of caloric restriction (e.g., intermittent fasting &amp; continuous restriction) may be equally effective for weight loss in the general population [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6836017/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, people with the 'A' allele for rs1800497 may prefer <em>intermittent fasting</em> (also sometimes known as "<em>time-restricted eating</em>"). Human trials suggest that intermittent fasting may help control appetite, and may even enhance the body's ability to burn fat [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31339000/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Intermittent fasting may even affect the brain's dopamine system directly. For example, one study of obese rats reported that fasting actually led to increased numbers of D2 receptors in the brain [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17960763/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Exercise Regularly</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mice lacking D2 receptors show significantly lower levels of physical activity, despite various exercise opportunities. Some authors suggest that lack of exercise is likely an important mechanism by which </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">DRD2 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants influence weight gain [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4728060/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5299005/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two clinical trials have confirmed the above findings by determining that women with the 'A' allele were much less physically active [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12782232/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Additionally, regular exercise helps:</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Balance dopamine levels [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26474929"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12758062"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27956050"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reduce food cravings [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6411047/#:~:text=found%20that%20after%2012%20weeks,most%20studies%20demonstrate%20a%20reduction"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Enhance fat-burning and weight loss [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3925973/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30003901/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> </ul> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Engage in Art</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Finally, back to the hypothesis about modern people becoming "mindless pleasure junkies." The authors of the study exploring this phenomenon suggest that artistic and creative activities may potentially be a "cure" for some of our problematic pleasure-seeking behaviors. For example, some research has reported that engagement in different types of art may help stimulate brain development, as well as foster better/healthier decision making and support long-term mental and physical well-being [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5443939/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other papers have confirmed the crucial role of art in brain development, emotional regulation and psychological well-being [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29779754/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32027577/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. Therefore, it could be a great idea to pick up an artistic hobby, if you don't already have one!</span></p>
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rsIDs = rs6275,rs2283265,rs6277,rs2514218,rs1076560,rs1800497,rs6279
rsStatus = rs6275,DRD2,chr11,113412755,A,G,,,18,15,HET
rsStatus = rs2283265,DRD2,chr11,113414814,C,A,T,,36,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs6277,DRD2,chr11,113412737,G,A,,,21,13,HET
rsStatus = rs2514218,,chr11,113522272,C,T,,,6,21,HET
rsStatus = rs1076560,DRD2,chr11,113412966,C,A,G,,29,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs1800497,ANKK1,chr11,113400106,G,A,,,19,16,HET
rsStatus = rs6279,DRD2,chr11,113410351,G,C,,,9,11,HET
