Regional skeletal bone deficit in female adolescents with anorexia nervosa: influence of the degree of malnutrition and weight recovery in a two year longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and the effect of weight recovery on the restoration of bone mass in adolescent females with anorexia nervosa (AN) with moderate malnutrition.


METHODS
We evaluated lumbar and femoral BMD in 27 females with restrictive AN with malnutrition and amenorrhea for over (M+PA) or less than (M+SA) one year and 12 with normal nutrition and amenorrhea for over one year (N+PA) followed for 24 months.


RESULTS
BMI remained below -1.5 SD in M+PA and increased at 24 months in M+SA. M+PA had low lumbar and femoral neck BMD at diagnosis, decreasing at 24 months. Lumbar BMD in N+PA and M+SA was reduced, with an increase in M+SA at 24 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Moderate malnutrition in AN induces loss of bone mass at the lumbar and femoral levels. Weight gain and resumption of menses increases bone mass, especially in the lumbar spine.
García-De Alvaro
María Teresa
MT
Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Department of Endocrinology, Madrid, Spain.
Muñoz-Calvo
María Teresa
MT
Martínez
Guillermo
G
Barrios
Vicente
V
Hawkins
Federico
F
Argente
Jesús
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D015430:Weight Gain