Zinc status before and after zinc supplementation of eating disorder patients.
Reduced food consumption is a major manifestation of zinc (Zn) deficiency. Many manifestations of Zn deficiency are complications of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. We evaluated serum and 24-hour urinary Zn values in 12 healthy volunteers and 33 eating disorder patients before and after hospitalization which included either Zn supplementation (75 mg Zn/day) or placebo. Bulimics had depressed serum Zn concentrations (p < 0.025). Admission urinary Zn was lower in bulimics (258 +/- 44 micrograms/day), and significantly depressed in anorexics (196 +/- 36 micrograms/day, p < 0.005) vs controls (376 +/- 45 micrograms/day). During hospitalization, serum Zn concentrations increased in all supplemented patients vs no change with placebo. Urinary Zn excretion increased in supplemented bulimics (p < 0.001) and placebo (p < 0.05). Urinary Zn excretion markedly increased in supplemented anorexics (179 +/- 65 to 1052 +/- 242 micrograms/day); however, placebo values fell or remained unacceptably low (admission 208 +/- 48 micrograms/day; discharge 160 +/- 17 micrograms/day). By dietary history, controls consumed the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for Zn (11.95 +/- 1.25 mg/day); anorexics 6.46 +/- 1.14 mg/day; and bulimics 8.93 +/- 1.29 mg/day. We suggest that Zn deficiency may act as a "sustaining" factor for abnormal eating behavior in certain eating disorder patients.
McClain
C J
CJ
Department of Medicine, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington 40536-0084.
Stuart
M A
MA
Vivian
B
B
McClain
M
M
Talwalker
R
R
Snelling
L
L
Humphries
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000652:urine; D002032:Bulimia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000652:urine; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism
D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc