Elevated ghrelin level in women of normal weight with amenorrhea is related to disordered eating.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether women of normal weight with hypothalamic amenorrhea have elevated ghrelin levels when compared with controls matched for metabolic parameters and whether this elevation is related to disordered eating patterns.


METHODS
Controlled clinical study.


METHODS
Healthy volunteers in an academic research environment.


METHODS
Twelve subjects of normal weight with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea, 22 exercising controls, and 5 sedentary controls.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Ghrelin level and eating behavior.


RESULTS
The group with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea did not differ from the exercising control group or the sedentary control group with respect to body weight, body fat, and leptin levels. However, ghrelin level showed a significant positive correlation with Eating Attitudes Test (EAT)-40 scores (r = 0.475) at an EAT score > or =10 in all three groups. Eighty-three percent of patients with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea had EAT-40 levels >10.


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated EAT scores associated with high ghrelin level may represent dietary behaviors that perpetuate reproductive dysfunction. Thus ghrelin may act as a restraining metabolic signal preventing a return to cyclicity in women with disordered eating and of normal weight and body fat.
Schneider
Lisa F
LF
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032, USA. ls2086@columbia.edu
Monaco
Sara E
SE
Warren
Michelle P
MP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001835:Body Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015854:Up-Regulation
D054439:Ghrelin