341 | id == 341
341 | category_id == 21
341 | category_order == 18
341 | category_name == Anxiety
341 | category_color == #C47AC0
341 | slug == rgs2-anxiety
341 | title == What Effect Does This Gene Have on Anxiety Levels? (RGS2)
341 | meta_description == Variants of RGS2 are associated with anxiety. Click here for some diet and gene-based tips!
341 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>RGS2 is one of the genes that controls how active your brain is. Some variants of this gene are associated with anxiety. This article has some particularly interesting gene-based recommendations so come check them out!</strong></p>
341 | overall_score_text == Your Anxiety Score (based on RGS2)
341 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/rgs2_image.jpg
341 | author_id == 15
341 | author_name == John Williams
341 | author_title == B.Sc
341 | author_order == 3987
341 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/sinan_pic.png
341 | author_intro == <p>John received his BSc from the University of Toronto.&nbsp;John has spent the last several years teaching high school science and math to English-language learners, which has forced him to learn how to simplify difficult concepts as much as possible. He has also worked in two different research labs and has experience as a student intern working and studying under doctors in hospitals and clinics to help diagnose and treat patients, interpret lab results and fill out mountains of paperwork.</p>
341 | reviewer == None
341 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
341 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
341 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
341 | publish_date == 2020
341 | publish_date == 9
341 | publish_date == 18
341 | avg_rating == 5.0
341 | tags_id == 726
341 | tags_name == Protein kinase C
341 | tags_id == 722
341 | tags_name == RGS2 gene
341 | permissions_favorite == False
341 | permissions_rate == False
341 | 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;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) turn information from outside of the cell into changes inside of the cell -- the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">RGS2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene codes for a protein that causes GPCRs to become less active.<br /><br /></span>Some variants play a role in anxiety by making less RGS2. This causes GPCRs to become more active and your brain enters into an overstimulated state.<br /><br />Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications can counteract the effects of these variants by increasing RGS2 levels or by increasing the levels of a compound that activates RGS2, such as protein kinase C.</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>RGS2</em> and Anxiety</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">G protein-coupled receptors are proteins that turn information from outside of the cell into changes inside of the cell. The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">RGS2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene codes for &lsquo;regulator of G protein signaling 2&rsquo;. As its name suggests, it makes G protein-coupled receptors less active [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30107643/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18833580/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25740197/"><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;">RGS2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is found in higher amounts in parts of the brain that are related to emotion. Some variants produce less RGS2 protein. As a result, fewer G protein-coupled receptors will turn off and your brain becomes more active than normal, leading to anxiety [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30107643/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25740197/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Your <em>RGS2</em> Results for Anxiety</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*4689248392806939*</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNP:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>RGS2 </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs4606"><strong>rs4606</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = reduced levels of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">RGS2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">; associated with increased risk of anxiety</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = not associated with anxiety</span></li> </ul> <ul style="text-align: justify; list-style-type: circle;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;C&rsquo; variant is more common and occurs in 65% of the population. In East Asian populations, the &lsquo;G&rsquo; variant is slightly more common.</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Other Important SNPs:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>RGS2 </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs10801153"><strong>rs10801153</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = reduced levels of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">RGS2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">; associated with increased risk of anxiety</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = not associated with anxiety</span></li> </ul> <ul style="text-align: justify; list-style-type: circle;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;G&rsquo; variant is more common and occurs in 70% of the population.</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>RGS2 </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs16834831"><strong>rs16834831</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = associated with increased risk of anxiety&nbsp;</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;"><strong><em>RGS2 </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs1890397"><strong>rs1890397</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = associated with increased risk of 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><em>RGS2 </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs16829458"><strong>rs16829458</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = associated with increased risk of 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><strong>*2613900780425378*</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Recommendations for Improving Anxiety</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>*9109836253227928*</strong></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Heat Therapy (Sauna)</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">For certain variants, heat may be a way to counteract the decreased RGS2 levels. Brain cells that were exposed to 45</span><sup><span style="font-weight: 400;">o</span></sup><span style="font-weight: 400;">C (113<sup>o</sup></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">F) temperature (the same as a hot shower) for 30 minutes followed by 37<sup>o</sup></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">C (98.6<sup>o</sup></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">F) for 2.5 hours had increased levels of RGS2 [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11322774/"><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 experiments have shown that </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/reasons-sweating-far-often/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">sauna</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> usage has been associated with improvements to anxiety and depression and decreased amounts of the &lsquo;stress hormone&rsquo; cortisol [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3788622/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25748743/"><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;">Certain illnesses and medications may make using a sauna extremely risky. Talk to your doctor first, limit your time in the sauna and drink plenty of water when you get out [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12724512/"><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;">Certain kinds of heat therapy, such as using a sauna, may help improve anxiety symptoms and reduce stress. If you have any medical conditions, talk to your doctor first to make sure it is safe.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <h4><strong>Prebiotic Fiber</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Eating more prebiotic fiber has been associated with decreased levels of anxiety and stress. Prebiotic fiber consumption may increase protein kinase C levels and thus potentially boost RGS2 in human brain cells [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29985786/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4410136/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11177176/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11322774/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Good sources of prebiotic fiber include <a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/resistant2-resistant-starch-metabolism-autoimmunity-cancer-weight-loss-digestion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resistant starch</a>, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/health-benefits-inulin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">inulin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, oats, and barley [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6041804/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28341907/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27178951/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25582732/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6041804/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Adding prebiotic fiber to your diet may reduce stress and anxiety by targeting your gene variants.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;">Supplements</h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Vitamin D</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Protein kinase C (PKC), which has been associated with increased RGS2 levels, requires calcium to function properly. A study in rats also found that PKC appears to be activated by both calcium and Vitamin D [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11322774/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://europepmc.org/article/pmc/pmc296566"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3119906/"><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;">One way to increase calcium levels is to take a </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/35proven-health-benefits-vitamin-d-part-1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vitamin D</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> supplement.&nbsp; In one study, Vitamin D supplements helped to improve anxiety in women with Type II Diabetes. Besides taking a supplement, natural sunlight is also a source of Vitamin D [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6390422/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/"><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;">Consider supplementing with Vitamin D as it may help with symptoms of anxiety.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>
341 | content_snp_table_4689248392806939_key == 4689248392806939
341 | content_snp_table_4689248392806939_blur == True
341 | content_snp_table_4689248392806939_hidden == False
341 | content_learn_more_2613900780425378_key == 2613900780425378
341 | content_learn_more_2613900780425378_blur == True
341 | content_learn_more_2613900780425378_hidden == False
341 | content_learn_more_2613900780425378_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your RGS2 gene makes you somewhat more likely to develop anxiety. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of anxiety; it’s just one gene related to it. Heat therapy, Vitamin D, and increasing prebiotic fiber may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
341 | content_recommendation_9109836253227928_key == 9109836253227928
341 | content_recommendation_9109836253227928_blur == True
341 | content_recommendation_9109836253227928_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs16829458,rs4606,rs16834831,rs1890397,rs10801153
rsStatus = rs16829458,,chr1,192799194,G,A,,,31,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs4606,RGS2,chr1,192812042,C,G,T,,19,16,HET
rsStatus = rs16834831,LOC105371665,chr1,192790056,T,G,,,36,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs1890397,,chr1,192801803,A,C,G,T,25,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs10801153,,chr1,192794818,G,A,C,T,17,16,HET
