title: Alterations in vitamin A and thyroid hormone status in anorexia nervosa and associated disorders.
abstract: Vitamin A and thyroid hormone status was investigated in 27 patients with anorexia nervosa. Subjects were divided into three groups based on eating behavior and serum carotene concentrations: anorexic (dietary restriction), normal carotene; anorexic, elevated serum carotene; bulimic, elevated serum carotene. All bulimic subjects fulfilling selection criteria were hypercarotenemic (weight loss and reduced metabolic rate). Data were compared to normal healthy volunteers. Serum retinol and retinol-binding protein levels were normal in all subjects whereas retinyl esters were elevated in the hypercarotenemic groups. Hypercarotenemia was primarily a result of elevation of vitamin A active carotenoids, especially beta-carotene. Diet was excluded from the etiology of hypercarotenemia. Thyroid hormones T4 and T3 were significantly depressed in hypercarotenemic groups and rT3 increased. A concomitant alteration in vitamin-hormone status is observed with progressive metabolic alterations: low T3, T4, and elevated retinyl esters in subjects with the hypercarotenemia associated with anorexia nervosa.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000097:blood*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D014801:Vitamin A; D002338:Carotenoids