title: Bone mineral density in adolescent girls with early onset of anorexia nervosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess prevalence of bone mineral density (BMD) reduction and relationship between bone mineral status and anthropometric assessment, nutritional intake and physical activity in adolescents with early anorexia nervosa (AN).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-seven consecutive AN patients and 57 healthy controls underwent anthropometric status, bone density, body composition and physical activity evaluations. In AN patients clinical features and nutritional intake were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-five patients with AN (62%) and 44 healthy subjects (77%) (pNS) showed normal BMD. Mean value of BMD Z-score was -0.6+/-0.9 in AN patients and -0.2+/-1.4 in controls (pNS). Weight at diagnosis and lean mass resulted the main predictor of bone loss but also height, best weight before diagnosis and BMI resulted correlated with bone mineral status in AN patients. Additionally, AN patients maintained good levels of protein intake and sport activity
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early diagnosis may prevent bone loss in AN patients. Protein intake and moderate physical activity seem to be useful to maintain an adequate bone mineral status.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesù, Piazza S. Onofrio, 4-00165 Rome, Italy. diamanti@opbg.net
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diamanti
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bizzarri
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gambarara
authors.forename: Angelica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calce
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montecchi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cappa
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castro
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins