Persistence of nutritional deficiencies after short-term weight recovery in adolescents with anorexia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
To study nutritional abnormalities in adolescent anorexia nervosa and to establish whether certain abnormalities persist after short-term refeeding.


METHODS
Sixty-one patients (10-19 years old) admitted to a reference unit for eating disorders between 1999 and 2000 with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa were evaluated at admission and at discharge. A range of biochemical, nutritional, and hormonal parameters were determined.


RESULTS
At admission, no protein or lipid deficiencies were found, although many patients presented with hormonal abnormalities and red blood cell folate and zinc deficiencies. Hormonal abnormalities reverted significantly (p <.000) after renutrition. There were decreases in erythrocytes and in levels of hemoglobin (p <.000) and folic acid (p <.05). Red blood cell folate and zinc increased but did not reach normal levels.


CONCLUSIONS
In a large proportion of adolescent anorexic patients, supplementation of folic acid and zinc is recommended although protein or hormonal replacement does not seem to be necessary.
Eating Disorders Unit, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry and Psychology, Hospital Clínic Universitari Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Spain. jcastro@clinic.ub.es
Josefina
J
Castro
Ramón
R
Deulofeu
Araceli
A
Gila
Josefina
J
Puig
Josep
J
Toro
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification; D015430:Weight Gain; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
D006728:Hormones; D014815:Vitamins; D005492:Folic Acid; D015032:Zinc