Background: Several lines of evidence suggest that a certain type of personality or temperament as well as oxidative stress may be implicated in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric diseases. Glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) plays a role in the antioxidant defense system.
Objectives: The authors studied the association between the GPX1 gene polymorphism and personality traits in healthy subjects.
Methods: One hundred forty-nine healthy subjects were enrolled. Analysis of the functional polymorphism (Pro198Leu) in the human GPX1 gene was performed.
Results: Subjects with Pro198Pro have significantly higher scores in openness to experience on the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R) as compared with subjects with other genotypes (Pro198Leu or Leu198Leu). In contrast, we detected no association between other personality dimensions on the NEO-PI-R and scores on the Temperament and Character Inventory.
Conclusion: This study reports that the functional polymorphism (Pro198Leu) in the GPX1 gene might be associated with openness to experience among the personality traits.