title: Omega-3 essential fatty acid status is improved during nutritional rehabilitation of adolescent girls with eating disorders and weight loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Essential fatty acid status is altered in eating disorders with weight loss, and deficiencies in polyunsaturated omega-3 essential fatty acids have been implicated in the development of depression and other psychopathologies. Presently, recovery of essential fatty status during the treatment of adolescent girls with eating disorders has been investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fatty acids were analysed in erythrocyte membranes of 24 adolescents girls with eating disorders of short duration, and on the average >10 kg weight loss at presentation. Blood samples were obtained at presentation and following weight recovery on standard diet without supplementation with essential fatty acids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alterations of essential fatty status observed at presentation largely normalized during treatment. Omega-3 status improved following weight gain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adequate nutrition, normalization of eating behaviours, weight gain and the consequent return to normalization of metabolism and endocrine function are sufficient to ensure normalization of essential fatty acid status. Supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids does not appear warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. ingemar.swenne@akademiska.se
authors.forename: Ingemar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Swenne
authors.forename: Agneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosling
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3