Peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor in stable love relationships: a study in healthy humans.
The study aimed to investigate whether involvement in a stable romantic partnership is associated with differences in peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels.
In a cross-sectional study, 60 healthy adults (32 women; mean age 27.4 ± 4.1 years) were classified as in a stable relationship (n = 31) or not (n = 29) after a clinical interview. Morning fasting blood was collected to quantify serum and platelet BDNF using a mature-BDNF sandwich ELISA. Data were analysed with t-tests and two-way ANOVA (group, sex), reporting effect sizes.
Participants in a relationship showed higher PLT-BDNF (4.36 ± 1.22 vs 2.85 ± 0.67 ng/mg; t(58) = 5.90, p < 0.001, d = 1.52) and higher serum BDNF (36.83 ± 6.95 vs 25.47 ± 5.23 ng/ml; t(58) = 7.12, p < 0.001, d = 1.84) than participants without a current stable romantic relationship. Two-way ANOVA confirmed a main effect of group for PLT-BDNF (F = 35.35, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.39) and serum BDNF (F ≈ 50, p < 0.001, η2≈0.47), while the sex and group × sex interactions were not statistically significant for both PLT-BDNF and serum BDNF.
Our results would indicate that a stable romantic partnership is associated with higher intraplatelet and serum BDNF levels. These findings support an association between current committed romantic relationship status and peripheral BDNF measures in healthy adults.
In a cross-sectional study, 60 healthy adults (32 women; mean age 27.4 ± 4.1 years) were classified as in a stable relationship (n = 31) or not (n = 29) after a clinical interview. Morning fasting blood was collected to quantify serum and platelet BDNF using a mature-BDNF sandwich ELISA. Data were analysed with t-tests and two-way ANOVA (group, sex), reporting effect sizes.
Participants in a relationship showed higher PLT-BDNF (4.36 ± 1.22 vs 2.85 ± 0.67 ng/mg; t(58) = 5.90, p < 0.001, d = 1.52) and higher serum BDNF (36.83 ± 6.95 vs 25.47 ± 5.23 ng/ml; t(58) = 7.12, p < 0.001, d = 1.84) than participants without a current stable romantic relationship. Two-way ANOVA confirmed a main effect of group for PLT-BDNF (F = 35.35, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.39) and serum BDNF (F ≈ 50, p < 0.001, η2≈0.47), while the sex and group × sex interactions were not statistically significant for both PLT-BDNF and serum BDNF.
Our results would indicate that a stable romantic partnership is associated with higher intraplatelet and serum BDNF levels. These findings support an association between current committed romantic relationship status and peripheral BDNF measures in healthy adults.
Authors
Marazziti Marazziti, Mucci Mucci, Gurrieri Gurrieri, Palego Palego, Betti Betti, Giannaccini Giannaccini, Carter Carter
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