Sex-Specific Associations of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in the General Population

• Main Authors: Marie-Lena Schmalhofer, Marcello R.P. Markus, Jan C. Gras, Juliane Kopp, Deborah Janowitz, Hans-Jörgen Grabe, Stefan Groß, Ralf Ewert, Sven Gläser, Diana Albrecht, Ina Eiffler, Henry Völzke, Nele Friedrich, Matthias Nauck, Antje Steveling, Stephanie Könemann, Kristin Wenzel, Stephan B. Felix, Marcus Dörr, Martin Bahls
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-10-01
• Series: Biomolecules
• Subjects: bdnf; cardiorespiratory exercise capacity; cardiorespiratory fitness
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/9/10/630

The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was initially considered to be neuron-specific. Meanwhile, this neurotrophin is peripherally also secreted by skeletal muscle cells and increases due to exercise. Whether BDNF is related to cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is currently unclear. We analyzed the association of serum BDNF levels with CRF in the general population (Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-TREND) from Northeast Germany; <i>n</i> = 1607, 51% female; median age 48 years). Sex-stratified linear regression models adjusted for age, height, smoking, body fat, lean mass, physical activity, and depression analyzed the association between BDNF and maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂peak), maximal oxygen consumption normalized for body weight (VO₂peak/kg), and oxygen consumption at the anaerobic threshold (VO₂@AT). In women, 1 mL/min higher VO₂peak, VO₂peak/kg, and VO₂@AT were associated with a 2.43 pg/mL (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16 to 3.69 pg/mL; <i>p</i> = 0.0002), 150.66 pg/mL (95% CI: 63.42 to 237.90 pg/mL; <i>p</i> = 0.0007), and 2.68 pg/mL (95% CI: 0.5 to 4.8 pg/mL; <i>p</i> = 0.01) higher BDNF serum concentration, respectively. No significant associations were found in men. Further research is needed to understand the sex-specific association between CRF and BDNF.