340 | id == 340
340 | category_id == 21
340 | category_order == 18
340 | category_name == Anxiety
340 | category_color == #C47AC0
340 | slug == MC4R-anxiety
340 | title == Can a Stress Hormone Influence Anxiety? (MC4R)
340 | meta_description == MC4R is involved in the release of a stress hormone. Variants of MC4R have been associated with anxiety. Read more here.
340 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>The <em>MC4R </em>gene codes for the melanocortin 4 receptor, which is involved in the release of a stress hormone. Variants of <em>MC4R </em>have been associated with anxiety. Read more to learn about the genetic link between this stress hormone and anxiety, and how to mitigate the negative effects of these variants.</strong></p>
340 | overall_score_text == Your Anxiety Score (based on MC4R gene)
340 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/MC4R-PMAIP1-Anxiety.jpg
340 | author_id == 14
340 | author_name == Shany Lahan
340 | author_title == MS (Neuroscience)
340 | author_order == 5
340 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Shany.webp
340 | author_intro == <p>Shany received her MSc in Neuroscience from Western University.</p>    <p>Prior to joining SelfDecode, Shany conducted research related to Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease, and taught science to undergraduate students. She believes that research should be accessible to everyone, regardless of scientific background. Shany joined SelfDecode&nbsp;with a mission to help others optimize their health and wellbeing &ndash; as well as help them understand the science behind it all.</p>
340 | reviewer == None
340 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
340 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
340 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
340 | publish_date == 2020
340 | publish_date == 9
340 | publish_date == 18
340 | avg_rating == 5.0
340 | tags_id == 479
340 | tags_name == ACTH
340 | tags_id == 455
340 | tags_name == Alpha-MSH
340 | tags_id == 112
340 | tags_name == Anxiety
340 | tags_id == 416
340 | tags_name == Cortisol
340 | tags_id == 415
340 | tags_name == HPA axis
340 | tags_id == 457
340 | tags_name == MC4R Gene
340 | permissions_favorite == False
340 | permissions_rate == False
340 | content_article == <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Summary</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MC4R </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">codes for the melanocortin 4 receptor. Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MC4R </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">may play a role in anxiety by influencing the release of the stress hormone cortisol. Lifestyle and supplement modifications can counteract the effects of these variants by decreasing cortisol levels.</span></span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>MC4R</em> and Anxiety</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="../../../gene/mc4r/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MC4R </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> codes for the melanocortin 4 receptor. Melanocortin receptors can be activated by two hormones: </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/acth/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ACTH</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://selfhack.com/blog/alpha-msh-its-role-in-weight-control-autoimmunity-cirs-and-cfs/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&alpha;-MSH</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/MC4R#resources"><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 the adrenal glands, binding of ACTH to melanocortin 2 receptors can stimulate the release of the stress hormone </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/need-know-cortisol-health-effects/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cortisol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This is part of the </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/reasons-cortisol-low-high/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">HPA axis</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> -- a system that mediates the sequential release of stress-related hormones [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181830/"><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 a brain region called the amygdala, binding of &alpha;-MSH to melanocortin 4 receptors has been shown to exacerbate responses to emotional stressors and induce anxiety. This exacerbation may be due to stimulation of the HPA axis by the amygdala [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3708461/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5632999/"><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;">Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MC4R </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">have been associated with anxiety. In individuals with stress-induced anxiety, as well as in some anxiety disorders, cortisol levels are often higher than in healthy controls [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25826379/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11005547/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MC4R </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants may result in increased activity of the melanocortin 4 receptor. This may stimulate the HPA axis to release excess cortisol, thus leading to symptoms of anxiety [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22176700/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Your <em>MC4R</em> Results for Anxiety</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*7183924284329324*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNP: </strong><strong><em>MC4R </em></strong><a href="../../../snp/rs10871777/"><strong>rs10871777</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Increased propensity for anxiety&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Not associated with anxiety</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Other Important SNPs: </strong><strong><em>MC4R </em></strong><a href="../../../snp/rs538656/"><strong>rs538656</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Increased propensity for anxiety</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Not associated with anxiety</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;">*9544403147198863*</p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Recommendations for Reducing Anxiety</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*2476416094042384*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Aiming to decrease the amount or activity of melanocortin 4 receptors may prevent excess release of cortisol and reduce symptoms of anxiety in carriers of the above-mentioned </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MC4R </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants. However, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">reduced activity of the melanocortin 4 receptor is one of the most common causes of obesity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10903343/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12646665/"><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;">To avoid this unwanted effect, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MC4R </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variant carriers should focus on decreasing cortisol levels.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Mindfulness</strong></h4> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mindfulness is an individual practice, as well as a form of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/meditation/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">meditation</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many studies have observed reductions in stress and anxiety with mindfulness meditation interventions. In fact, research suggests that mindfulness is the only form of meditation that reliably improves anxiety [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29930229/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26334339/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31039261/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0063263/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a randomized controlled trial, cortisol and other stress marker levels were significantly reduced after 21 days of mindfulness meditation [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30256277/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Mindfulness may reduce anxiety by decreasing cortisol levels.</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Massage</strong></h4> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/massage-health-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Massage</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may reduce stress and anxiety by lowering levels of ACTH [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23251939"><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;">In line with this, a back massage intervention was observed to significantly decrease cortisol levels and anxiety in caregivers of cancer patients [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26745049/"><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;">Generalized anxiety disorder patients observed significant reductions in anxiety after a Swedish massage intervention [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27464321/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Massage may reduce anxiety by decreasing cortisol levels.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>Bacopa monnieri</em></strong></h4> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://content.selfdecode.com/blog/bacopa-monnieri-4/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bacopa monnieri</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a perennial herb found in many parts of the world.&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bacopa monnieri</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> supplementation reduced cortisol levels and overall stress in a randomized controlled trial [</span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23788517"><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;">High doses of a </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bacopa monnieri</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> extract significantly reduced anxiety symptoms in an animal model of anxiety. This effect was similar to that of a medication commonly prescribed for anxiety-related disorders [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23195757/"><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;">An extract of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bacopa monnieri </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">was found to reduce anxiety in a clinical trial [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11498727"><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;">It is important to note that </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bacopa monnieri</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> supplements should be taken with a meal, because they require dietary fats for successful absorption.</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><em>Bacopa monnieri </em>may reduce anxiety by decreasing cortisol levels.</span></p>
340 | content_snp_table_7183924284329324_key == 7183924284329324
340 | content_snp_table_7183924284329324_blur == True
340 | content_snp_table_7183924284329324_hidden == False
340 | content_learn_more_9544403147198863_key == 9544403147198863
340 | content_learn_more_9544403147198863_blur == True
340 | content_learn_more_9544403147198863_hidden == False
340 | content_learn_more_9544403147198863_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your MC4R gene makes you somewhat more prone to anxiety. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of anxiety; it’s just one gene related to it. Mindfulness, massage, and Bacopa monnieri supplements may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
340 | content_recommendation_2476416094042384_key == 2476416094042384
340 | content_recommendation_2476416094042384_blur == True
340 | content_recommendation_2476416094042384_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs10871777,rs538656
rsStatus = rs10871777,,chr18,60184530,A,G,T,,17,20,HET
rsStatus = rs538656,,chr18,60183189,G,T,,,14,7,HET
