Nutritional and endocrine-metabolic aberrations in women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea.
The development of functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) in weight-stable, nonathletic women has long been thought to be psychogenic in origin. This study was designed to gain insight into the possibility that nutritional deficits and compensatory endocrine-metabolic adaptations contribute to the development and maintenance of FHA of the psychogenic type. Nutritional intake, insulin sensitivity, and 24-h dynamics of insulin/glucose, cortisol, leptin, somatotropic, and LH axes were simultaneously assessed in eight women with FHA not associated with exercise or weight loss and in eight age- and body mass index-matched regular cycling controls (NC). The percent fat body mass was lower and lean body mass was higher in FHA than in NC (P < 0.05). The FHA subjects scored higher (P < 0.05) on two Eating Disorder Inventory subscales and had a higher (P < 0.05) Beck depression rating than NC, although all were in the subclinical range. Although daily caloric intake did not differ, FHA consumed 50% less (P < 0.001) fat, twice (P < 0.05) as much fiber, and more carbohydrate (P < 0.05) compared to NC. During the feeding phase of the day, FHA exhibited lower glucose (P < 0.05) and insulin (P < 0.01) levels than NC, and the degree of hypoinsulinemia was directly related to relative dietary fat (r = 0.73). Although 24-h mean GH levels did not differ, the pattern of GH release in FHA was distinctly altered from that in NC. GH pulse amplitude was blunted, pulse frequency was accelerated 40% (P < 0.01), and interpulse GH concentrations were elevated 2-fold (P < 0.01) throughout the day for FHA compared to NC. This distorted pattern of GH pulses was associated with a 40% decrease (P < 0.01) in GH-binding protein levels. Levels of the insulin-dependent insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) were elevated (P < 0.001) during the feeding portion of the day in FHA and were inversely related to insulin (r = -0.50) and directly related to cortisol (r = 0.64) levels for FHA and NC groups together. Although levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 did not differ, the elevation of IGFBP-1 levels in FHA resulted in a reduced (P < 0.01) ratio of IGF-I/IGFBP-1, which may decrease the bioactivity and hypoglycemic effect of IGF-I. Twenty-four-hour mean leptin levels and the diurnal excursion of leptin in FHA did not differ from those in NC. LH pulse frequency was slowed 50% (P < 0.001) in FHA, with unaltered pulse amplitude, resulting in 45% lower (P < 0.01) 24-h mean LH levels for FHA compared to NC. LH pulse frequency for the two groups was related positively to insulin (r = 0.80) levels and the ratio of IGF-I/IGFBP-1 (r = 0.70) and negatively with cortisol (r = -0.61) and IGFBP-1 (r = -0.72) concentrations. In summary, we found evidence of subclinical eating disorders in weight-stable, nonathletic women with FHA accompanied by a severe restriction of dietary fat intake. Unbalanced nutrient intake in psychogenic FHA was associated with multiple endocrine-metabolic alterations. Among these, reduced levels of plasma glucose and serum GHBP, a decrease in the ratio of IGF-I/IGFBP-1, accelerated GH pulse frequency, and elevated interpulse GH levels are indicative of a hypometabolic state. In addition, the magnitude of glucoregulatory responses (increased cortisol secretion and decreased insulin/IGF-I action) were directly related to the degree of suppression of GnRH/LH pulse frequency. These results are remarkably similar to those seen in highly trained athletes with FHA(1). Thus, nutritional deficits may represent a common contributing factor to the development and maintenance of multiple neuroendocrine-metabolic aberrations underlying both psychogenic and exercise-related FHA.
Laughlin
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GA
Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California-San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla 92093-0633, USA.
Dominguez
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CE
Yen
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D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D003863:Depression; D002149:Energy Intake; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007027:Hypothalamic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012016:Reference Values; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D012890:Sleep; D014851:Wakefulness
D000728:Androgens; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004967:Estrogens; D006728:Hormones; D007328:Insulin; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone