Time course of bone loss in patients with anorexia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the time course of bone mineral density (BMD) in women with anorexia nervosa (AN) during 2-year follow-up.


METHODS
We prospectively studied 51 female with AN aged 18-38 years, and 40 age-matched healthy women (19-34 years). BMD was measured in lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), and total hip (TH) by DXA.


RESULTS
At baseline, weight, body mass index, and lumbar and hip BMD were significantly (p < .001) lower in AN patients than in controls. Patients who gain weight showed a significant increase in BMD at FN (+1.6%; p < .05), and TH (+4.4%; p < .05) and lower nonsignificant changes in LS (+1.3%). Weight at entry, and percent change of weight were significant determinants (p < .05) of the variability in percent change of BMD at FN and TH, whereas weight at entry was the main determinant of bone modifications at lumbar spine.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data emphasize the influence of weight gain in recovery of bone mass in AN patients, especially at the hip.
Olmos
José M
JM
Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, RETICEF, Santander, Spain. miromj@humv.es
Valero
Carmen
C
del Barrio
Andrés Gómez
AG
Amado
José A
JA
Hernández
José L
JL
Menéndez-Arango
José
J
González-Macías
Jesús
J
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology