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

• Published in: Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism Vol. 20; no. 11; pp. 1223 - 1232
• Main Authors: Garcia-De Álvaro, M.T., Muñoz-Calvo, M.T., Martinez, G., Barrios, V., Hawkins, F., Argente, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany De Gruyter 01.11.2007
• Subjects: Adolescent; Amenorrhea - etiology; Amenorrhea - metabolism; Anorexia Nervosa - complications; Anorexia Nervosa - metabolism; Anorexia Nervosa - pathology; Bone Density; Bone Diseases, Metabolic - etiology; Bone Diseases, Metabolic - metabolism; Bone Diseases, Metabolic - pathology; Female; Femur - diagnostic imaging; Femur - metabolism; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Lumbar Vertebrae - diagnostic imaging; Lumbar Vertebrae - metabolism; Malnutrition - complications; Malnutrition - metabolism; Malnutrition - pathology; Prospective Studies; Radiography; Weight Gain
• ISSN: 0334-018X; 2191-0251
• DOI: 10.1515/JPEM.2007.20.11.1223

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. 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. 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. 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.