title: Does bingeing restore bulimics' alleged 5-HT-deficiency?
abstract: The co-occurrence of bingeing and depressed mood in bulimics may be explained by one pathogenic process: hyposerotonergic functioning. A relatively high carbohydrate intake improves mood and raises 5-HT level. Therefore, several authors suggested that the carbohydrate intake during binges may be a form of self-medication to compensate for bulimics' alleged hyposerotonergic functioning, thereby improving mood. This view, in which bingeing compensates for central 5-HT deficiencies, assumes that bulimics' binges contain relatively more carbohydrates than bulimics' non-binge-eating episodes. In the present study, bulimics' binge-eating and non-binge-eating episodes were compared as to macronutrient and calorie intake. However, no support was found for the hypothesis that binge-eating enhances brain serotonin.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van den Hout
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Griez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002032:Bulimia / Q000097:blood*; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D012701:Serotonin