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From malnutrition to refeeding during anorexia nervosa
1Nutrition Clinique, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, Garches, France. jean-claude.melchior@rpc.ap-hop-paris.fr
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
|November 24, 1999
Summary
Anorexia nervosa causes malnutrition and significant mortality in young adults. Metabolic adaptations mimic starvation, but refeeding can trigger dangerous refeeding syndrome due to impaired thermic effect of food.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic disorders
- Nutritional science
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Anorexia nervosa is a severe malnutrition disorder common in Western societies.
- It affects young adults (15-25 years) with a 20% mortality risk.
- Characterized by drastic food reduction, leading to muscle and fat mass depletion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the metabolic adaptations during anorexia nervosa.
- To compare these adaptations to starvation.
- To investigate metabolic changes during refeeding.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of metabolic changes during anorexia nervosa.
- Comparison of energy expenditure and hormonal secretion.
- Assessment of metabolic response during refeeding.
Main Results:
- Resting energy expenditure decreases with lean body mass loss and reduced thyroid hormones.
- Metabolic adaptation resembles starvation, with protein sparing.
- Refeeding impairs metabolic adaptation, increasing thermic effect of food and risk of hypophosphatemia.
Conclusions:
- Anorexia nervosa involves significant metabolic adaptation similar to starvation.
- Refeeding presents metabolic challenges, including increased thermic effect of food.
- High risk of refeeding syndrome with severe hypophosphatemia necessitates careful management.