Thyroid function in bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is characterized by episodes of binge eating. Bulimic patients have diminished caloric requirements and reduced metabolic rate. Because thyroid function is an important modulator of metabolic rate, we sought to clarify conflicting reports concerning this parameter in bulimic patients. Thyroid indices were examined in 18 bulimics at admission and after 3 weeks of abstinence. Patients had thyroid indices in the normal range at admission but slightly diminished triiodothyronine (T3) compared with control subjects (n = 28). Significant declines in T3 and thyroxine and increases in thyrotropin were noted after 3 weeks of abstinence. At abstinence, T3 was positively correlated with caloric intake, protein, fat, and carbohydrate consumption and inversely correlated with percent ideal body weight. We hypothesize that binge-purge behavior may transiently increase thyroid indices and, consequently, metabolic rate in patients with bulimia nervosa. Furthermore, decreases in T3 following abstinence may be related to diminished caloric consumption or may reflect hypothalamic-pituitary dysregulation in these patients.