Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Structural and functional changes in skeletal muscle in anorexia nervosa

D M McLoughlin1, E Spargo, W S Wassif

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK.

Acta Neuropathologica
|July 3, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Severe malnutrition in anorexia nervosa causes significant muscle dysfunction, a metabolic myopathy. Refeeding is recommended to treat this under-recognized skeletal myopathy in patients.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Family History and Solar Insolation in Bipolar I Disorder.

Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica·2026
Same author

ECT is evidence-based - a commentary on depression: why drugs and electricity are not the answer.

Psychological medicine·2022
Same author

A critique of narrative reviews of the evidence-base for ECT in depression.

Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences·2022
Same author

From Molecules to Mind: Mechanisms of Action of Electroconvulsive Therapy.

Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing)·2020
Same author

From molecules to mind: mechanisms of action of electroconvulsive therapy.

Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica·2018
Same author

Use of codeine-containing medicines by Irish psychiatric inpatients before and after regulatory limitations on their supply.

Irish journal of psychological medicine·2018

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Metabolic Disorders
  • Muscle Physiology

Background:

  • Protein-energy malnutrition is a key factor in anorexia nervosa.
  • Muscle dysfunction is an under-recognized complication of severe anorexia nervosa.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively examine skeletal muscle function and structure in patients with severe anorexia nervosa.
  • To characterize the metabolic myopathy associated with severe malnutrition in anorexia nervosa.

Main Methods:

  • Evaluated muscle function through strength and exercise testing in eight female patients with severe weight loss.
  • Utilized electromyography and muscle biopsy for structural and electro-physiological analysis.
  • Assessed muscle fiber atrophy and myofibril integrity via ultrastructural examination.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • All patients exhibited impaired muscle function, with significantly reduced maximum voluntary contraction force.
  • Electromyography indicated myopathy in five patients, with four showing concurrent neuropathy.
  • Muscle biopsies revealed myopathic changes, specifically severe type 2 fiber atrophy, without neuropathic evidence. Ultrastructural analysis showed myofibril damage and abundant glycogen granules.

Conclusions:

  • Severe protein-energy malnutrition in anorexia nervosa results in a metabolic myopathy affecting skeletal muscles.
  • No direct association was found between specific abnormal dieting behaviors and histological muscle changes.
  • Appropriate refeeding programs are recommended for treating myopathy in anorexia nervosa patients.