Predictors of bone loss in young women with restrictive eating disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influence of Body Mass Index, body composition and hormonal factors on bone mass in young women with amenorrhea related to restrictive eating disorders.


METHODS
Descriptive study of 55 patients with secondary amenorrhea due to restrictive eating disorders and 14 healthy girls used for comparison. Assessment of Bone Mineral Density, Fat Mass and Lean Mass by DEXA and of the serum hormonal profile.


RESULTS
Patients had lower BMI, lower Fat Mass and lower Bone Mass compared to controls; their serum levels of LH, FT(3), DHEAS, Insulin and Leptin were significantly reduced. Low Bone Density, especially in the lumbar region, correlated with concentrations of FT(3), Cortisol, Insulin and Leptin, hormones expressive of metabolic adjustment to malnutrition. Lean Mass was a strong predictor of osteopenia and osteoporosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Hormonal nutritional markers, together with soft tissue composition measurements, are viable options for ongoing monitoring of subjects with eating disorders.
Bruni
Vincenzina
V
Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Service, University of Florence, Italy.
Dei
Metella
M
Filicetti
M Francesca
MF
Balzi
Daniela
D
Pasqua
Alessandro
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone