title: Anorexia nervosa and the adrenal: the effect of weight gain.
abstract: Cortisol (F) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA) were measured following each 5 kg gain in weight in a group of 16 patients with anorexia nervosa admitted to hospital for refeeding. The mean percentage of standard weight on admission was 65% and that on discharge was 92%. Basal plasma cortisol fell gradually throughout the inpatient period, the correlation coefficient of the regression line relating percentage of standard weight to plasma cortisol in all patients was -0.559 (p less than 0.001). Adrenal androgen production, however, increased with weight gain and the correlation coefficient of the regression line of androgen production against percentage of standard weight was +0.303 (p less than 0.01). The DHA/F ratio increased with weight gain. This suggests that weight gain in the patient with anorexia nervosa could be associated with increased activity in the adrenal 17,20-lyase enzymes and a decrease in the activity of the 3-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The possibility that these adrenal enzyme changes are controlled by pituitary proopiocortin peptides [the putative cortical androgen stimulating hormone (CASH)] is discussed as is the relationship between normal adrenarche and the weight related changes in adrenal function in anorexia nervosa.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Treasure
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Safieh
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001835:Body Weight; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone