title: Serotonin, dieting, and bulimia nervosa.
abstract: Dieting is a common behaviour which may trigger eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa in predisposed subjects. We found that in healthy women moderate dieting for 3 weeks lowered plasma concentrations of the 5-HT precursor, L-tryptophan (TRP) and impaired brain 5-HT neurotransmission as judged by 5-HT neuroendocrine tests. In recovered female subjects with a history of bulimia nervosa we found that TRP depletion produced by an amino acid mixture lacking TRP caused a temporary return of depressive symptoms together with concerns about weight and shape and fear of loss of control of eating. Taken together the data suggest that dieting-induced decreases in TRP availability may trigger the development of bulimia nervosa is susceptible individuals.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK. phil.cowen@psych.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cowen
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D002032:Bulimia / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan