Altered insulin response to a balanced test meal in bulimic patients

Abstract

Impaired glucose tolerance with overshooting insulin secretion has been reported in anorexia nervosa, in starvation, and in low carbohydrate diets. Since impaired glucose tolerance is a further indicator of starvation andlor carbohydrate restriction and possibly contributes to impairment of mechanisms of hunger and satiety, we examined insulin and glucose responses in bulimic patients. Data show that in bulimic patients as compared with age‐matched controls, insulin secretion and glucose levels can be elevated after a balanced test meal. This indicates disturbed glucose tolerance. Whether this reduced glucose tolerance can be related to altered kinetics of insulin release or to cellular insulin resistance cannot be decided on the basis of our data.

Ovarian morphology and insulin sensitivity in women with bulimia nervosa

“…During eating binges, large quantities of food of high calorific content are consumed rapidly, providing a greater stimulus to insulin secretion than would a normal meal. This response is potentiated by prolonged intervals between meals or by starvation (Schweiger et al, 1987;Russell et al, 1987;. Kiriike et al (1990) assessed insulin sensitivity in a small number of women with either anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa using the hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp technique.…”

Physiological and psychological responses to a glucose challenge in bulimia

“…That bulimia is associated with abnormalities in carbohydrate (CHO) metabolism was first suggested by Schweiger et al (1987). Elevations of blood insulin and glucose among bulimics exceeded those of controls following a balanced test meal.…”

“…Discrepancies between the results of Schweiger et al (1987) and others may be related to patient selection. Weingarten et al (1988) note that whereas none of the patients included in their study were previously anorectic, 30% of those in the Schweiger et al (1987) study had a history of anorexia nervosa.…”

Hydrocephalus internus in a male patient with anorexic and bulimic eating behavior

“…For endocrine studies, blood was collected through an indwelling venous catheter a t 30-min intervals between 790 P.M. and 7:OO A.M. At 5:OO A.M. an orthostatic test was conducted for 10 min. Hormone analysis was carried out as previously described (Pahl et al, 1985;Pirke et al, 1987;Schweiger et al, 1987).…”