Serum BDNF concentrations show strong seasonal variation and correlations with the amount of ambient sunlight

PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e48046. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048046. Epub 2012 Nov 2.

Abstract

Earlier findings show seasonality in processes and behaviors such as brain plasticity and depression that in part are regulated by Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). Based on this we investigated seasonal variation in serum BDNF concentrations in 2,851 persons who took part in the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA). Analyses by month of sampling (monthly n's >196) showed pronounced seasonal variation in serum BDNF concentrations (P<.0001) with increasing concentrations in the spring-summer period (standardized regression weight (ß) = 0.19, P<.0001) and decreasing concentrations in the autumn-winter period (ß = -0.17, P<.0001). Effect sizes [Cohen's d] ranged from 0.27 to 0.66 for monthly significant differences. We found similar seasonal variation for both sexes and for persons with a DSM-IV depression diagnosis and healthy control subjects. In explorative analyses we found that the number of sunshine hours (a major trigger to entrain seasonality) in the week of blood withdrawal and the 10 weeks prior to this event positively correlated with serum BDNF concentrations (Pearson's correlation coefficients ranged: 0.05-0.18) and this could partly explain the observed monthly variation. These results provide strong evidence that serum BDNF concentrations systematically vary over the year. This finding is important for our understanding of those factors that regulate BDNF expression and may provide novel avenues to understand seasonal dependent changes in behavior and illness such as depression. Finally, the findings reported here should be taken into account when designing and interpreting studies on BDNF.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anxiety / blood*
  • Body Mass Index
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / blood*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Depression / blood*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Netherlands
  • Regression Analysis
  • Seasons*
  • Sunlight*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor

Grants and funding

The Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety study infrastructure is financed by the Geestkracht program of ZonMW, the Dutch Scientific Organization-Medical Sciences (Grant no. 10.000.1002) and by complementary funding from participating mental healthcare institutions (GGZ Buitenamstel, GGZ Drenthe, GGZ Friesland, GGZ Geestgronden, GGZ Rivierduinen and Lentis) and Universities (Leiden University Medical Center, University Medical Center Groningen and VU University Medical Center). Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor measurements were financed with Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO: Dutch Scientific Organization) VIDI-grant no. 016.085.353 awarded to Dr. Elzinga. The contributions of Dr. Oude Voshaar and MD Bus were made possible by NWO Clinical Fellowship no. 907.0023.1 awarded to Dr. Oude Voshaar. None of the authors report potential (financial) conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.