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Gastrointestinal hormones in anorexia nervosa
Journal of Psychiatric Research
|January 1, 1985
Summary
Patients with anorexia nervosa exhibit lower fasting glucose, insulin, and pancreatic glucagon. They also show impaired glucose tolerance and altered hormone responses after meals, indicating metabolic dysregulation.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Anorexia nervosa is associated with significant metabolic and endocrine disturbances.
- Gastrointestinal hormone regulation is complex and may be affected in eating disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate fasting and post-prandial glucose and gastrointestinal hormone levels in patients with anorexia nervosa.
- To compare these levels with those of healthy volunteers.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of blood glucose, insulin, and various gastrointestinal hormones (gastrin, glucagon-like immunoreactivity, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, pancreatic polypeptide, secretin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide).
- Fasting blood samples and serial sampling for two hours post-meal (450 kcal mixed meal) were analyzed.
- Comparison between anorexia nervosa patients and age-sex matched healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Significantly lower fasting glucose, insulin, and pancreatic glucagon in anorexia nervosa patients.
- Significant glucose intolerance, reduced and delayed insulin response post-meal.
- Reduced release of gastric inhibitory polypeptide and increased pancreatic polypeptide post-meal.
- No significant differences in fasting gastrin, total glucagon-like immunoreactivity, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, pancreatic polypeptide, or secretin.
Conclusions:
- Anorexia nervosa is characterized by altered glucose metabolism and impaired hormonal responses to meals.
- Specific gastrointestinal hormones show distinct dysregulation in anorexia nervosa patients compared to controls.