Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is prevalent in modern societies, this pathogenesis is not yet well understood.

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate circulating levels of adiponectine (Apn) and the relationship between these levels and anthropometric and metabolic parameters.

Methods: The study included 40 women, 20 with AN (BMI 15.7±2.1 kg/m², age 30.2±10.5 years), 12 restricter (BMI 14.9±1.6 kg/m²) and 8 binge-purge subtype (BMI 18.3±0.8 kg/m²), and 20 healthy controls (BMI 22.06±0.93 kg/m², age 32.4±4.4 years). Food intake was evaluated by a 5-day 24 h dietary recall.

Results: Apn was higher (P<0.001) in AN (36.84±13.12 ng/ml) than controls (15.1±3.0 ng/ml) and (P=0.004) in restricter (41.8±11.0 ng/ml) than in binge-purge AN subtype (22.1±4.5 ng/ml). Apn levels were negatively related with BMI in total population (AN+C), without significancy.

Total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were higher (P<0.05; P=0.001) in AN (193.09±39.86 mg/dl; 107.95±27.75 mg/dl) than C (166.09±13.70 mg/dl; 83.6±15 mg/dl), while Albumin was lower (P<0.05) in AN than C (4.40±0.41 vs 4.65±0.57 g/dl); no difference between restricter and binge-purge subtype. Prealbumin and C Somatomedine were similar in AN and C because of these parameters rapidly change with changing of nutritional habits, and the study’s patients were already included into nutritional educational program: although their daily caloric intake was lower than the recommended assumption levels of nutrients (LARN, National Institute of Nutrition), the caloric division between macronutrients was correct.

Conclusions: Increase of Apn in AN might be related to fat mass reduction, in fact Apn progressively increase in losing weight obese, or fat mass might exert negative feedback on Apn production, the severe emaciation in AN could inhibit this feedback.