The nutritional status of subjects with anorexia nervosa

This study characterized the dietary pattern of 25 subjects with anorexia nervosa from a diet history. The patients mean age was 18 +/- 5 years and mean weight loss from preillness weight was 26%. Diets of anorectics were found to be significantly lower in total energy, reflecting a disturbance in nutrient intake when data were compared to a normal population. The percentage of energy derived from macronutrients was higher for protein and lower for concentrated carbohydrates, but total carbohydrates and lipids were found similar to the ones observed in normal subjects. Dietary intake of calcium, iron, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and ascorbic acid of anorectics were significantly lower than in normal subjects. Such a particular pattern was paralleled by high serum cortisol levels and circadian cortisol cycle, low morning glycemia, high carotenemia, hypokaliemia and hyperalbuminemia. Results are discussed on the basis of the nutritional adequacy of the anorexia nervosa dietary pattern and its relationship with some aspects of the symptomatology of the disease.