The effect of exercise on resting concentrations of peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in major depressive disorder: A meta-analysis

Publication date: Available online 6 September 2018Source: Journal of Psychiatric ResearchAuthor(s): Adam Dinoff, Nathan Herrmann, Walter Swardfager, Damien Gallagher, Krista L. LanctôtAbstractExercise interventions have been shown to successfully improve depression in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), but like other forms of antidepressant treatment, exercise is not effective in all patients and its mechanisms of action have not been fully elucidated. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a key mediator of neurogenesis and neuronal survival, has been shown to be decreased in individuals with MDD. One potential mechanism by which exercise alleviates depression is through an increase in BDNF. In order to evaluate this hypothesis, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies that assessed the effects of a chronic (multi-week) exercise intervention on BDNF concentrations in MDD patients. MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Source, and CINAHL databases were searched for original, peer-reviewed reports of peripheral blood BDNF concentrations before and after a chronic exercise intervention in MDD patients. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were generated from random effects models. Potential sources of heterogeneity were explored in meta-regression analyses. In six studies that met inclusion criteria, resting blood concentrations of BDNF were not significantly higher after a chronic exercise intervention (SMD = 0.43, 95% CI:...
Source: Journal of Psychiatric Research - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research