Insulin sensitivity in patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia

Abstract

Insulin sensitivity was studied using the euglycemic insulin clamp technique in 5 female patients with anorexia nervosa and 4 females with bulimia. The results were compared with those of 15 male patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Euglycemic insulin clamp is performed for 2 h using the Biostator, during which time insulin was infused at a rate of 0.77 mU kg-1 min-1. Fasting plasma glucose and immunoreactive insulin tended to be lower in patients with anorexia nervosa than in those with bulimia (69.8 +/- 6.7 vs 75.9 +/- 7.7 mg/dl, and 5.9 +/- 2.0 vs 9.8 +/- 3.4 U/ml). The mean metabolic clearance rate (MCR) was 9.2 +/- 3.9 ml kg-1 min-1 for patients with anorexia nervosa, 5.1 +/- 2.2 ml kg-1 min-1 for patients with bulimia, and 3.8 +/- 0.3 ml kg-1 min-1 for patients with diabetes mellitus. However, one anorectic had a significantly high MCR. One anorectic and 3 bulimics had a significantly low MCR. These results suggest that insulin sensitivity varied in patients with anorexia nervosa, whereas it tended to decrease in some patients with bulimia but not to the same degree as in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Low lymphocyte count in underweight Japanese women

“…In seven women of normal weight who were restricting food intake, lymphocyte count showed a low value of 1,477.9 ± 221.1/mm 3 , and a low lymphocyte count of \1,500/mm 3 was found in three (42.9%) of them. One underweight subject who had restricted food intake had a very low lymphocyte count of 928/mm 3 .…”

“…One underweight subject who had restricted food intake had a very low lymphocyte count of 928/mm 3 .…”

“…Lymphocyte count is correlated with the nutritional assessment scale [17]. An earlier study reported a decline in leukocyte, erythrocyte, and platelet counts in patients with anorexia nervosa who were severely thin [3]. Malnutrition may suppress hematopoiesis and particularly lymphocyte count.…”

“…A low lymphocyte count of\1,500/mm 3 is considered as malnutrition [8,10]. As for the relationship between being underweight and leukocyte count, only a few studies have reported a decline in leukocyte and lymphocyte count in patients with anorexia nervosa who were severely thin [3,11]. However, there are few studies on lymphocyte count among underweight women, who have not suffered from anorexia nervosa.…”

“…Young women often have a desire to lose weight and be thin [1,2]. In women, being underweight can be a risk for low bone mineral density (BMD), anemia, and amenorrhea [3][4][5][6]. Malnutrition is one of the important health problems for underweight people.…”