Reproductive hormone profiles in male anorexia nervosa before, during and after restoration of body weight to normal. A study of twelve patients

Abstract

Twelve male subjects with anorexia nervosa have been studied in respect of various aspects of their hormonal status. Initially low plasma levels of testosterone and LH increase significantly as weight is regained to matched population mean levels. LH response to releasing hormone is absent at low body weight, enhanced at transitional early/mid‐pubertal body weight and normal at newly restored adult body weight. It is claimed that these changes as experienced by the individuals concerned during weight gain must necessarily be taken into account in the attendant psychotherapy, and can then provide the opportunity for psychological growth and greater capacity this time to cope with the inevitably rekindied adolescent turmoil.

Normal Inhibin B Levels Suggest Partial Preservation of Gonadal Function in Adult Male Patients with Anorexia Nervosa

“…Bone uncoupling, another effect of undernutrition described in AN women, was also identified in male AN adults, with low levels of osteocalcin and increased levels of CTX [15]. Some of our results are in agreement with previous studies on male AN except for bone resorption markers, as low levels of NTX were described in adolescent AN boys [6–8,14].…”

Normal Inhibin B Levels Suggest Partial Preservation of Gonadal Function in Adult Male Patients with Anorexia Nervosa

“…Bone uncoupling, another effect of undernutrition described in AN women, was also identified in male AN adults, with low levels of osteocalcin and increased levels of CTX [15]. Some of our results are in agreement with previous studies on male AN except for bone resorption markers, as low levels of NTX were described in adolescent AN boys [6–8,14].…”

Eating disorders in males: a report on 135 patients

“…Recent data on sexuality in the general population indicate a 1%-6% prevalence of homosexuality in healthy males (24) and a 2% prevalence of homosexuality in females with eating disorders (25), both far below the 27% prevalence reported by our male patients. The high prevalence of asexuality in our anorexic group is similar to reports of anorexic women (26,27) and probably reflects the testosteronelowering effect of protein-calorie malnutrition (28)(29)(30) combined with active repression of sexual desire, as observed in other case series of anorexic males (23,31).…”

Anorexia nervosa in the male: A review of clinical, epidemiological and biological findings

“…Also, four times out of five a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) injection did not induce gonadotrophin release. Similar anomalies have again been previously reported (Frankel & Jenkins, 1975;Palmer et al, 1975;Mastrogiacomo et al, 1978;Crisp et al, 1982). They also observed a decrease of the mean level of plasma estradiol and a variable response of testicular steroid to HCG, more or less correlated to the corpulence index.…”

“…Lemaire et al relate the resutls of a study of the gonadal function in eight typical cases of male AN. They observed a highly significant decrement of plasma testosterone in their eigh, cases of male AN studied at the time of maximum weight loss, a finding consistent with other studies totalling about 20 cases (Frankel & Jenkins, 1975;Palmer et al, 1975;Beumont et al, 1972;Mastrogiacomo et al, 1978;Crisp et al, 1982).…”

“…During restoration of weight, Lemaire observed an increase in plasma testosterone, serum gonadotrophins and their response to LH-RH, and a strong correlation between testosterone and corpulence. This finding has also been noted by Crisp et al (1982). However, whereas Crisp's team found a significant correlation betwen corpulence and LH, although not FSH, Lemaire's team did not find a significant correlation between LH or estradiol or FSH.…”

Normal Inhibin B Levels Suggest Partial Preservation of Gonadal Function in Adult Male Patients with Anorexia Nervosa

“…Bone uncoupling, another effect of undernutrition described in AN women, was also identified in male AN adults, with low levels of osteocalcin and increased levels of CTX [15]. Some of our results are in agreement with previous studies on male AN except for bone resorption markers, as low levels of NTX were described in adolescent AN boys [6–8,14].…”

Eating disorders in males: a report on 135 patients

“…Recent data on sexuality in the general population indicate a 1%-6% prevalence of homosexuality in healthy males (24) and a 2% prevalence of homosexuality in females with eating disorders (25), both far below the 27% prevalence reported by our male patients. The high prevalence of asexuality in our anorexic group is similar to reports of anorexic women (26,27) and probably reflects the testosteronelowering effect of protein-calorie malnutrition (28)(29)(30) combined with active repression of sexual desire, as observed in other case series of anorexic males (23,31).…”

Anorexia nervosa in the male: A review of clinical, epidemiological and biological findings

“…Also, four times out of five a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) injection did not induce gonadotrophin release. Similar anomalies have again been previously reported (Frankel & Jenkins, 1975;Palmer et al, 1975;Mastrogiacomo et al, 1978;Crisp et al, 1982). They also observed a decrease of the mean level of plasma estradiol and a variable response of testicular steroid to HCG, more or less correlated to the corpulence index.…”

“…Lemaire et al relate the resutls of a study of the gonadal function in eight typical cases of male AN. They observed a highly significant decrement of plasma testosterone in their eigh, cases of male AN studied at the time of maximum weight loss, a finding consistent with other studies totalling about 20 cases (Frankel & Jenkins, 1975;Palmer et al, 1975;Beumont et al, 1972;Mastrogiacomo et al, 1978;Crisp et al, 1982).…”

“…During restoration of weight, Lemaire observed an increase in plasma testosterone, serum gonadotrophins and their response to LH-RH, and a strong correlation between testosterone and corpulence. This finding has also been noted by Crisp et al (1982). However, whereas Crisp's team found a significant correlation betwen corpulence and LH, although not FSH, Lemaire's team did not find a significant correlation between LH or estradiol or FSH.…”

Normal Inhibin B Levels Suggest Partial Preservation of Gonadal Function in Adult Male Patients with Anorexia Nervosa

“…Bone uncoupling, another effect of undernutrition described in AN women, was also identified in male AN adults, with low levels of osteocalcin and increased levels of CTX [15]. Some of our results are in agreement with previous studies on male AN except for bone resorption markers, as low levels of NTX were described in adolescent AN boys [6–8,14].…”

Eating disorders in males: a report on 135 patients

“…Recent data on sexuality in the general population indicate a 1%-6% prevalence of homosexuality in healthy males (24) and a 2% prevalence of homosexuality in females with eating disorders (25), both far below the 27% prevalence reported by our male patients. The high prevalence of asexuality in our anorexic group is similar to reports of anorexic women (26,27) and probably reflects the testosteronelowering effect of protein-calorie malnutrition (28)(29)(30) combined with active repression of sexual desire, as observed in other case series of anorexic males (23,31).…”

Anorexia nervosa in the male: A review of clinical, epidemiological and biological findings

“…Also, four times out of five a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) injection did not induce gonadotrophin release. Similar anomalies have again been previously reported (Frankel & Jenkins, 1975;Palmer et al, 1975;Mastrogiacomo et al, 1978;Crisp et al, 1982). They also observed a decrease of the mean level of plasma estradiol and a variable response of testicular steroid to HCG, more or less correlated to the corpulence index.…”

“…Lemaire et al relate the resutls of a study of the gonadal function in eight typical cases of male AN. They observed a highly significant decrement of plasma testosterone in their eigh, cases of male AN studied at the time of maximum weight loss, a finding consistent with other studies totalling about 20 cases (Frankel & Jenkins, 1975;Palmer et al, 1975;Beumont et al, 1972;Mastrogiacomo et al, 1978;Crisp et al, 1982).…”

“…During restoration of weight, Lemaire observed an increase in plasma testosterone, serum gonadotrophins and their response to LH-RH, and a strong correlation between testosterone and corpulence. This finding has also been noted by Crisp et al (1982). However, whereas Crisp's team found a significant correlation betwen corpulence and LH, although not FSH, Lemaire's team did not find a significant correlation between LH or estradiol or FSH.…”