title: An objective means of diagnosing anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa using 15N/14N and 13C/12C ratios in hair.
abstract: An objective means based on the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of five hairs per individual is presented for distinguishing between individuals with anorexia nervosa and/or bulimia nervosa from non-clinical individuals (i.e. clinically normal controls). Using discriminant analysis, an algorithm has been developed that provides both sensitivity and specificity of 80% in making diagnoses of individuals with these eating disorders. With further refinements, the results suggest that it may be also possible to distinguish between individuals with anorexia or bulimia. Finally, the study shows the value of conducting blind tests and using larger sample sizes of both control and treatment groups. Both groups are needed to validate the diagnostic value of a method and to provide measures of sensitivity and specificity of any diagnostic test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA. khatch@byu.edu
authors.forename: Kent A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hatch
authors.forename: Morgan A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Amanda W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Kunz
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: Dennis L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Eggett
authors.forename: Stephen T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Beverly L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Roeder
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D009587:Nitrogen Isotopes