SynthesisScientific reports2023
Effect of alcohol on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) blood levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Scientific reports, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 29 citations in OpenAlex.
- Audiovestibular Dysfunction in Alcohol Use Disorder: A Systematic Review of Human Primary Clinical Evidence.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Pooled it
- Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic results from a randomized controlled study with the growth hormone secretagogue receptor blocker PF-5190457 in recently abstinent patients with alcohol use disorder.The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology · 2026Trial
- Exploratory Analysis of Genetic Variants in BDNF, GABA Receptors, and Dopaminergic Pathways with Alcohol Use Disorder in a Spanish Cohort.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- Molecular Mechanisms of Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity Disruption Induced by Chronic Methamphetamine Exposure: A Narrative Review.Cellular and molecular neurobiology · 2026Review
- Cytokine Networks in Alcohol Use Disorder: A Narrative Review Highlighting Research Gaps and Future Priorities.Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Deficiency Exacerbates Innate Immune Responses by Enhancing NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and GSDMD-Mediated Pyroptosis in Mice.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026Article
- The effect of neuroimmune signalling on drug addiction.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Review
- Neurotoxicity of Chronic Alcohol Exposure: Mechanistic Insights, Cellular Disruption, and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Mechanisms of Alcohol Interference with Hippocampal Neurogenesis and its Repair Strategies.Molecular neurobiology · 2025Review
- Alpha-Lipoic Acid in Early-Stage Alcohol-Related Brain Damage in Rats: A Comparative Pilot Study.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Observational
- Circulating Immune and Endocrine Markers in Currently Drinking and Abstinent Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder and Controls.Addiction biology · 2025Article
- Modulation of TNFα-driven neuroinflammation by Gardenin A: insights fromFrontiers in pharmacology · 2025Article
- Article
- Mediterranean Diet and Lifestyle in Persons with Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease.Nutrients · 2024Article
- Design and methodology of the first open-label trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder: Considerations for a randomized controlled trial.Contemporary clinical trials communications · 2024Article
- Alcohol use disorder disrupts BDNF maturation via the PAI-1 pathway which could be reversible with abstinence.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Protective Effects and Mechanism ofInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
12 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is a vital protein involved in neuronal development, survival, and plasticity. Alcohol consumption has been implicated in various neurocognitive deficits and neurodegenerative disorders. However, the impact of alcohol on BDNF blood levels remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of alcohol consumption on BDNF blood levels. A comprehensive search of electronic databases was conducted to identify relevant studies. Eligible studies were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria. Data extraction was performed, and methodological quality was assessed using appropriate tools. A meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the overall effect size of alcohol consumption on BDNF levels. A total of 25 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. Alcohol use and BDNF blood levels were significantly correlated, according to the meta-analysis (p = 0.008). Overall, it was discovered that drinking alcohol significantly decreased BDNF levels (SMD: - 0.39; 95% CI: - 0.68 to - 0.10; I2: 93%). There was a non-significant trend suggesting that alcohol withdrawal might increase BDNF levels, with an SMD of 0.26 (95% CI: - 0.09 to 0.62; I2: 86%; p = 0.14). Subgroup analysis based on the source of BDNF demonstrated significant differences between the subgroups (p = 0.0008). No significant publication bias was observed. This study showed that alcohol consumption is associated with a significant decrease in BDNF blood levels. The findings suggest a negative impact of alcohol on BDNF levels regardless of alcohol dosage. Further studies are needed to strengthen the evidence and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.