373 | id == 373
373 | category_id == 22
373 | category_order == 19
373 | category_name == Trauma
373 | category_color == #C47AC0
373 | slug == TNF-PTSD
373 | title == The Effects of Brain Inflammation on PTSD Severity (TNF)
373 | meta_description == TNF can promote inflammation. Variants of TNF have been associated with PTSD. Read more here.
373 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>TNF is a protein that can promote inflammation in response to both infection and psychological stressors. A variant of <em>TNF</em> has been associated with PTSD. Read to learn more about this association, and to learn about recommendations you may follow to mitigate the negative effects of this variant.</strong></p>
373 | overall_score_text == Your PTSD Score (based on TNF gene)
373 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/TNF-PTSD.jpg
373 | author_id == 14
373 | author_name == Shany Lahan
373 | author_title == MS (Neuroscience)
373 | author_order == 5
373 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Shany.webp
373 | 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>
373 | reviewer == None
373 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
373 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
373 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
373 | publish_date == 2020
373 | publish_date == 10
373 | publish_date == 1
373 | avg_rating == 5.0
373 | tags_id == 24
373 | tags_name == Inflammation
373 | tags_id == 50
373 | tags_name == Stress
373 | tags_id == 234
373 | tags_name == TNF gene
373 | tags_id == 756
373 | tags_name == Trauma
373 | permissions_favorite == False
373 | permissions_rate == False
373 | content_article == <table style="height: 56px; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" border="1" cellpadding="10"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 100%; text-align: justify;"><strong>Note:</strong> <em>TNF</em> is one of the genes analyzed in our <strong><a href="https://get.selfdecode.com/gene-reports/inflammation/"><em>Inflammation DNA Wellness Report</em></a></strong>, along with many other genes. If you're looking for a comprehensive report on inflammation-related genes, check it out!</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>&nbsp;</p> <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;">A variant of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">may play a role in PTSD by stimulating the excess release of TNF, a protein that can promote inflammation. Diet and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of this variant by lowering levels of TNF.</span></span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>TNF</em> and PTSD</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF is a protein (cytokine) released by cells of the immune system [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/TNF"><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;">Although the release of TNF normally increases in response to infection, its release can also increase after exposure to psychological stressors. For example, researchers studying the effects of childhood trauma on healthy adults found a significant link between childhood trauma and increased blood levels of TNF [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23415658/"><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;">Not surprisingly, TNF also plays a major role in the development of mental disorders, such as </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ptsd-causes-treatments/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">PTSD</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Individuals with PTSD often experience symptoms of stress and anxiety in response to events that elicit traumatic, fear-based memories [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26544749/"><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 PTSD, continuous exposure to elevated levels of TNF has been suggested to inhibit the growth of new brain cells (neurons) in a number of brain regions implicated in fear processing. This could alter the activity of these brain regions [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26544749/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22840760/"><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 variant of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TNF </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">has been linked to an increased severity of PTSD symptoms. This variant may stimulate the excess release of TNF in regions of the brain associated with PTSD, which could inhibit the growth of neurons in these brain regions and result in abnormal responses to fear-based memories [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28160694/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Your <em>TNF</em> Results for PTSD</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*3242414381292227*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNP: </strong><strong><em>TNF</em></strong> <a href="../../../snp/rs1800629/"><strong>rs1800629</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Increased severity of PTSD symptoms</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Not associated with PTSD</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;">*2810030095978224*</p> <h2 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Recommendations for Reducing Symptoms of PTSD</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*6219902098103431*</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Green Tea (EGCG)</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is an antioxidant found in </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/green-tea/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">green tea</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26323573/"><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;">Researchers have yet to study the effects of green tea or EGCG on humans with PTSD; however, current research on animals suggests promising future results. For example, in an animal study, EGCG was observed to diminish cognitive and behavioral symptoms of PTSD [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30273101/"><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;">Green tea is well known for its ability to reduce inflammation. Multiple studies have observed significant reductions in levels of TNF after treatment with or consumption of EGCG [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26187476/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25350163/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21682898/"><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;">Green tea (EGCG) may reduce symptoms of PTSD by lowering levels of TNF.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Fish Oil (Omega-3)</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/fish-oil-top-22-science-based-health-benefits-of-fish-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fish oil</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> contains DHA and EPA, two types of omega-3 fatty acids [</span><a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcids-HealthProfessional/"><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;">Low levels of DHA have been associated with PTSD. Conversely, supplementation of omega-3 and consequent high levels of EPA have been associated with reduced severity of PTSD symptoms after traumatic injury [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27567082/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27552592/"><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 randomized controlled trial of patients with non-healing and inflamed leg wounds, omega-3 supplements significantly lowered blood levels of TNF. Similar results were found after omega-3 supplementation, in a clinical trial of patients with kidney failure [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29735019/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22569435/"><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;">Fish oil (omega-3) may reduce severity of PTSD symptoms by lowering levels of TNF.&nbsp;</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Curcumin (Turmeric)</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/curcumin-cures-top-15-scientifically-proven-health-benefits-with-references/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Curcumin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is an active compound found in turmeric [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5664031/"><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 studies of rats with PTSD, curcumin ameliorated fear-based memories and reduced symptoms of anxiety [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6029466/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4367473/"><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;">Although studies focusing on curcumin supplementation have yet to be conducted on human participants with PTSD, its benefits on general symptoms of anxiety and neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression suggest promise for future studies [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28135888/"><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;">The anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin have been demonstrated in a number of studies. In studies of mice and cells, curcumin was found to significantly lower levels of inflammatory proteins -- including TNF [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23825622/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30569107/"><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;">Curcumin (turmeric) may reduce symptoms of fear and anxiety in PTSD by lowering levels of TNF.</span></p>
373 | content_snp_table_3242414381292227_key == 3242414381292227
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373 | content_learn_more_2810030095978224_key == 2810030095978224
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373 | content_learn_more_2810030095978224_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your TNF gene may somewhat increase severity of PTSD symptoms. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of PTSD; it’s just one gene related to it. Green tea (EGCG), fish oil (omega-3), and curcumin (turmeric) may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
373 | content_recommendation_6219902098103431_key == 6219902098103431
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373 | content_recommendation_6219902098103431_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs1800629
