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Hormonal circadian rhythms in eating disorders.
E Ferrari1, F Fraschini, F Brambilla
1Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Therapy, University of Pavia, Italy.
Biological Psychiatry
|May 1, 1990
Summary
Women with anorexia nervosa and obesity show disrupted circadian hormone patterns, particularly with growth hormone. This internal desynchronization affects hormonal rhythms in both eating disorders.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Chronobiology
- Nutritional Psychiatry
Background:
- Circadian rhythms regulate crucial physiological processes, including hormone secretion.
- Disruptions in hormonal circadian patterns are implicated in various health conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To simultaneously evaluate the circadian rhythm of key plasma hormones in women with anorexia nervosa (AN) and obesity (OB) compared to healthy controls.
- To investigate potential internal desynchronization of hormonal rhythms in these patient groups.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous assessment of plasma hormone levels (prolactin, growth hormone (GH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, melatonin) over a circadian cycle.
- Comparison of hormonal patterns between 23 women with AN, 27 OB women, and age/gender-matched healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Both AN and OB groups exhibited altered circadian patterns for several hormones, with trends similar between patient groups.
- Plasma growth hormone (GH) showed nutrition-dependent impairments, distinguishing it from other hormones.
- An internal desynchronization of hormonal rhythm timing was identified in both AN and OB patients.
Conclusions:
- Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and obesity are associated with significant disruptions in the body's natural hormonal rhythms.
- Growth hormone secretion is particularly sensitive to nutritional status in these conditions.
- The findings highlight internal desynchronization as a common feature in the pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa and obesity.