Gut Feelings: How Microbiota Might Impact the Development and Course of Anorexia Nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) can probably be regarded as a "model" for studying the interaction of nutrition with the gut-brain axis, which has drawn increased attention from researchers and clinicians alike. The gut microbiota influences somatic effects, such as energy extraction from food and body weight gain, as well as appetite, gut permeability, inflammation and complex psychological behaviors, such as depression or anxiety, all of which play important roles in AN. As nutrition is one of the main factors that influence the gut microbiota, nutritional restriction and selective eating in AN are likely influencing factors; however, nutritional rehabilitation therapy is surprisingly understudied. Here, we review the general mechanisms of the interactions between nutrition, the gut microbiota and the host that may be relevant to AN, paying special attention to the gut-brain axis, and we present the first specific findings in patients with AN and corresponding animal models. In particular, nutritional interventions, including food selection, supplements, and pre-, pro- and synbiotics that have the potential to influence the gut microbiota, are important research targets to potentially support future AN therapy.

[The Role of Nutritional Counselling in the Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa]. / Die Rolle der Ernährungsberatung bei der Behandlung von Anorexia nervosa und Bulimia nervosa.

The Role of Nutritional Counselling in the Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa Abstract. Eating disorders such as Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa should be treated with an interdisciplinary approach. In addition to medical and psychiatric/psychotherapeutic guidance, nutritional counselling is an important part of the treatment. The focus lies on the following nutrition topics, such as: incorrect nutritional knowledge, hunger and satiety, prohibitions and bad conscience. The relationship between the affected person and the dietician plays a large role in the treatment success.

[Consensus document about the nutritional evaluation and management of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa]. / Consenso sobre la evaluación y el tratamiento nutricional de los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria: anorexia nerviosa.

Anorexia nervosa is the most common psychiatric disease among young women and it is assumed to be of multifactorial origin. Diagnostic criteria have recently been modified; therefore amenorrhea has ceased to be a part of them. This disease shows a large variability in its presentation and severity which conditions different therapeutic approaches and the need to individualize the treatment, thus it is indispensable a multidisciplinary approach. The goals are to restore nutritional status (through an individualized diet plan based on a healthy consumption pattern), treat complications and comorbidities, nutritional education (based on healthy eating and nutritional patterns), correction of compensatory behaviors and relapse prevention. The treatment will vary according to the patient's clinical situation, and it may be performed in outpatient clinics (when there is clinical stability), in a day hospital or ambulatory clinic (intermediate mode between traditional outpatient treatment and hospitalization) or hospitalization (when there is outpatient management failure or presence of serious medical or psychiatric complications). Artificial nutrition using oral nutritional supplements, enteral nutrition and exceptionally parenteral nutrition may be necessary in certain clinical settings. In severely malnourished patients the refeeding syndrome should be avoided. Anorexia nervosa is associated with numerous medical complications which determines health status, life quality, and is closely related to mortality. There is little clinical evidence to assess the results of different treatments in anorexia nervosa, when most of the recommendations are being based on expert consensus.

Resumen ejecutivo "Consenso sobre la evaluación y el tratamiento nutricional de los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria: anorexia nerviosa, bulimia nerviosa, trastorno por atracón y otros" / No disponible

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Consenso sobre la evaluación y el tratamiento nutricional de los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria: anorexia nerviosa / No disponible

La anorexia nerviosa es la enfermedad psiquiátrica más frecuente entre las mujeres jóvenes y se asume de origen multifactorial. Los criterios diagnósticos han sido recientemente modificados de forma que la amenorrea deja de formar parte de ellos. Esta enfermedad muestra una gran variabilidad en su presentación y gravedad, lo que condiciona diferentes abordajes terapéuticos y la necesidad de individualizar el tratamiento, haciéndose indispensable un enfoque multidisciplinar. Los objetivos persiguen restaurar el estado nutricional (a través de un plan dietético individualizado y basado en un patrón de consumo saludable), tratar las complicaciones y comorbilidades, la educación nutricional (basada en patrones alimentarios y nutricionales sanos), corrección de las conductas compensatorias y la prevención de recaídas. El tratamiento variará según la situación clínica del paciente, pudiendo realizarse en consultas externas (cuando existe estabilidad clínica), en hospital de día (modalidad intermedia entre el tratamiento ambulatorio tradicional y la hospitalización) o en hospitalización (fracaso del manejo ambulatorio o presencia de complicaciones médicas o psiquiátricas graves). La nutrición artificial a través del empleo de suplementos nutricionales orales, nutrición enteral y excepcionalmente nutrición parenteral puede ser necesaria en determinados escenarios clínicos. En pacientes severamente desnutridos se debe evitar el síndrome de realimentación. La anorexia nerviosa está asociada a numerosas complicaciones médicas que condicionan el estado de salud, la calidad de vida y que se relacionan estrechamente con la mortalidad. Existe poca evidencia clínica para evaluar los resultados de los distintos tratamientos en la anorexia nerviosa, estando basados la mayoría de las recomendaciones en consenso de expertos

Anorexia nervosa is the most common psychiatric disease among young women and it is assumed to be of multifactorial origin. Diagnostic criteria have recently been modified; therefore amenorrhea has ceased to be a part of them. This disease shows a large variability in its presentation and severity which conditions different therapeutic approaches and the need to individualize the treatment, thus it is indispensable a multidisciplinary approach. The goals are to restore nutritional status (through an individualized diet plan based on a healthy consumption pattern), treat complications and comorbidities, nutritional education (based on healthy eating and nutritional patterns), correction of compensatory behaviors and relapse prevention. The treatment will vary according to the patient's clinical situation, and it may be performed in outpatient clinics (when there is clinical stability), in a day hospital or ambulatory clinic (intermediate mode between traditional outpatient treatment and hospitalization) or hospitalization (when there is outpatient management failure or presence of serious medical or psychiatric complications). Artificial nutrition using oral nutritional supplements, enteral nutrition and exceptionally parenteral nutrition may be necessary in certain clinical settings. In severely malnourished patients the refeeding syndrome should be avoided. Anorexia nervosa is associated with numerous medical complications which determines health status, life quality, and is closely related to mortality. There is little clinical evidence to assess the results of different treatments in anorexia nervosa, when most of the recommendations are being based on expert consensus

Suplementos nutricionales en trastornos de la conducta alimentaria / Nutritional supplements in eating disorders

Se consideran Trastornos de la Conducta Alimentaria (TCA) a una serie de entidades nosológicas diferenciadas que tienen como nexo común una alteración continuada en la ingesta o bien en la conducta relacionada con la ingesta. Dentro de dicha clasificación destacan los siguientes trastornos: Anorexia Nerviosa (AN) y Bulimia Nerviosa (BN). La AN es un trastorno de curso crónico caracterizado principalmente por una negativa o disminución de la ingesta acompañado de una distorsión de la imagen corporal con el consecuente miedo intenso a la ganancia de peso. Se estima una prevalencia vital en la adolescencia de dicho trastorno de aproximadamente el 0,5-1%1. En la BN la presencia de atracones de comida y la posterior conducta compensatoria (en forma de ejercicio intenso, uso de laxantes, diuréticos...) es lo que prima en el paciente. La prevalencia se estima entre un 2 y un 4% en mujeres jóvenes, iniciándose generalmente en etapas algo posteriores que la AN. Se cree que en su patogenia influyen factores biológicos, psicológicos y ambientales así como una cierta vulnerabilidad genética. Existen distintos tratamientos con eficacia avalada por parte de literatura científica, tanto terapias biológicas como psicológicas, a pesar de ello, nos encontramos con una efectividad parcial de dichas terapias siendo necesaria la búsqueda de nuevas dianas así como de nuevos tratamiento. Aunque la etiopatogenia de los TCA no esté clara, algunas de las disfunciones neurobiológicas encontradas permitirían considerar que la dieta y la administración de nutrientes podría ser relevante en el tratamiento de estos trastornos. Proponemos en este artículo una revisión de nuevos tratamientos enfocados al déficit nutricional (AU)

Eating disorders (EDs) are a series of differentiated nosological entities sharing the common link of a continuous alteration in food intake or in food intake-related behavior. Within this classification, the following disorders are noteworthy: anorexia nerviosa (AN) and bulimia nerviosa (BN). Anorexia nervosa is a chronic disorder characterized mainly by negative or decreased food intake accompanied by a distortion of body image and intense accompanying fear of weight gain. The estimated vital prevalence of this disorder in adolescence is approximately 0.5%-1%.1 The primary feature of BN is the presence of binge eating accompanied by compensatory behavior (in the form of intense exercise and the use of laxatives and diuretics, etc.). The prevalence of BN is estimated to be between 2% and 4% in young women, and it generally starts at somewhat later stages than AN. It is believed that biological, psychological, and environmental factors, as well as genetic vulnerability, influence the pathogenesis of EDs. A variety of therapies exist, both biological and psychological, whose effectiveness is supported by the scientific literature. Nonetheless, we find these therapies only partially effective and new targets as well as new treatments should be sought. Although the etiopathogenesis of EDs is unclear, some of the neurobiological dysfunction found suggests that diet and nutrient supplementation could be relevant in their treatment. We review in this article new treatments focusing on nutritional déficits (AU)

Tratamiento quirúrgico de la anorexia nerviosa resistente al tratamiento médico / Surgical treatment of medication-resistant anorexia nervosa

Gracias a los avances en técnicas neuroquirúrgicas, y debido a que el diagnóstico y la clasificación de las enfermedades psiquiátricas han evolucionado significativamente a lo largo de las últimas décadas, se están desarrollando tratamientos a nivel experimental para aquellos pacientes resistentes al manejo conservador. La anorexia nerviosa es una enfermedad de prevalencia creciente, con la tasa de mortalidad más elevada dentro de los trastornos psiquiátricos, y con aproximadamente un 20% de pacientes que presentan una evolución tórpida. Para estos pacientes que no responden a manejo conservador, la estimulación cerebral profunda ha surgido como una alternativa terapéutica, si bien la literatura especializada al respecto es escasa. A continuación presentamos una revisión de la fisiopatología de la anorexia nerviosa, así como de los distintos tratamientos neuroquirúrgicos realizados a lo largo de la historia. Se detalla la perspectiva de tratamiento quirúrgico actual, así como los aspectos éticos que se han de considerar en relación con el surgimiento de estas nuevas terapias (AU)

Given the advances experienced in neurosurgical techniques, and because the diagnosis and classifi cation of psychiatric diseases has evolved over the past decades, new experimental treatments are arising to treat a greater number of medication-resistant psychiatric patients. Among psychiatric diseases, anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate, and approximately 20% of patients experience torpid outcomes. For these patients who do not respond to conservative management, deep brain stimulation has arisen as an alternative option, although studies are still scarce. We review the pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa, as well as the various neurosurgical treatments that have been performed throughout history. The prospect of current surgical treatments is detailed, as well as the ethical aspects to consider regarding the emergence of these new therapies (AU)

Nutritional approach of inpatients with anorexia nervosa / Abordaje nutricional de pacientes ingresados con anorexia nerviosa

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is the most prevalent of eating disorders in children and adolescents, and its treatment is long and complex, involving a multidisciplinary team. Nutritional rehabilitation and restoration of a healthy body weight is one of the central goals in the initial stages of inpatient treatment. However, current recommendations on initial energy requirements for these patients are inconsistent, with a clear lack of controlled studies, available scientific evidence and global consensus on the most effective and safe refeeding practices in hospitalized adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN). Conservative refeeding recommendations have been classically established in order to prevent the refeeding syndrome. Nevertheless, various works have recently appeared advocating a higher initial caloric intake, without observing more complications or refeeding syndrome, and allowing a shorter average stay. We present our experience in the treatment of restricting AN with a conservative progressive treatment. We have obtained good results with this approach, which was well tolerated by patients, with no observing complications. As a consequence, the medical team could establish a pact about the therapeutic goals with the patients in an easier way (AU)

La anorexia nerviosa (AN) es el trastorno del comportamiento alimentario más prevalente en niños y adolescentes; su tratamiento es largo y complejo, e involucra a múltiples profesionales. La rehabilitación nutricional y la recuperación de un peso corporal normal es uno de los objetivos centrales en las fases iniciales del tratamiento del paciente ingresado. Sin embargo, las recomendaciones actuales sobre los requerimientos energéticos iniciales para estos pacientes son inconsistentes, con una clara ausencia de estudios controlados, evidencia científica disponible y consenso global sobre la forma de realimentación más efectiva y segura en adolescentes ingresados con anorexia nerviosa (AN). Clásicamente se han recomendado una realimentación conservadora para prevenir el síndrome de realimentación. No obstante, han aparecido recientemente varios trabajos recomendado una ingesta calórica inicial más elevada, sin observar más complicaciones ni síndrome de realimentación, y asociadas a estancias medias más cortas. Presentamos aquí nuestra experiencia en el tratamiento de la AN restrictiva con un tratamiento progresivo conservador. Hemos obtenido buenos resultados con este abordaje, bien tolerando por los pacientes, y sin observar complicaciones. Gracias a él, el equipo médico pudo establecer más fácilmente un acuerdo sobre los objetivos terapéuticos con el paciente (AU)

Influence of a fermented protein-fortified dairy product on serum insulin-like growth factor-I in women with anorexia nervosa: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) have low serum IGF-I levels that may contribute to a lower bone mineral mass. We investigated the effects of a fermented, protein-fortified, dairy product on serum IGF-I levels in patients with AN during an in-hospital refeeding program. METHODS: In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial conducted at 3 university hospitals and 3 private clinics in France and Switzerland, 62 women recently admitted with confirmed AN and with a baseline low serum IGF-I level were randomized to 2 daily isocaloric fresh cheese pots containing either 15 g/150 g or 3 g/150 g (controls) of protein for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in IGF-I levels. RESULTS: In the primary intention-to-treat analysis, mean serum IGF-I levels increased during the intervention phase from 22.9 ± 1.5 to 28.6 ± 1.3 nmol/L (means ± SEM) (+20.2%) in the intervention group and from 20.2 ± 1.2 to 25.7 ± 1.5 nmol/L (+16.8%) in controls. In a preplanned analysis of covariance with repeated measures, the between-group difference was close to statistical significance (P = 0.071). In a post-hoc mixed-regression model analysis, the difference was statistically significant (4.9 nmol/l increase; P = 0.003), as was the change of the ratio IGF-I/IGF-BP3 (P=0.004). There was no between-group difference in biochemical markers of bone turnover (osteocalcin, P1NP, CTX) or in serum parathyroid hormone level. Serum calcium levels slightly increased during the intervention phase in the higher protein group (P = 0.02). IGF-BP2 decreased significantly more in the intervention group during the follow up period at week 4 after supplements cessation (P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Intake of a fermented, protein-fortified, isocaloric dairy product during 4 weeks may slightly increase serum IGF-I levels in women with AN, without significant changes in bone turnover markers. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01823822 (www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Best nutrition counseling practices for the treatment of anorexia nervosa: a Delphi study.

OBJECTIVE: To use Delphi methodology to evaluate the extent to which a panel of registered dietitians (RDs) who treat anorexia nervosa (AN) concur on parameters related to nutrition counseling for AN. METHOD: The twenty-one panelists who participated in this study: (i) were RDs (ii) had specialized in nutritional counseling for eating disorders for 5 years or more, and (iii) had Internet access at home or work. Over a 10-week period (between 8/2013 and 11/2013), panelists completed three iterative questionnaires. Questionnaire 1 included 12 open-ended questions regarding nutrition counseling for patients with AN. Subsequent questionnaires were developed based on a content analysis of responses to the first questionnaire, and panelists were asked to rank their level of agreement with these items. RESULTS: Consensus was defined as 85% agreement and was achieved for 47 (35.3%) of the 133 items included in the third questionnaire. Items achieving consensus described nutrition counseling approaches that are applicable to all patients with AN, and their wording typically allowed for consideration of individual needs. Some items that did not achieve consensus reflected approaches for which individual tailoring may be necessary depending on age, stage of illness, and other patient factors. Consensus was also not shown for approaches for which there is little evidence. DISCUSSION: Nutritional counseling intervention for AN has some consensus features, but the need for individualization was apparent. A stronger evidence-base for nutritional counseling interventions for AN would provide guidance and facilitate greater consistency among RDs regarding how to best care for this patient population.

[Contemporary criteria of the diagnosis and current recommendations for nutritional therapy in anorexia nervosa]. / Wspólczesne kryteria rozpoznania i aktualne rekomendacje leczenia zywieniowego w anoreksji.

The basic criterion for the diagnosis of anorexia (AN - anorexia nervosa) by ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, version 10) is the body weight less than 15% of the expected normal body weight. According to DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, version IV) the basic feature of AN is a refusal to maintain body weight equal or greater than the minimal normal weight. The prevalence of anorexia nervosa is 0.3-0.5% or even 1.3-3.7% if include pre-anorexic states (eg. the phenomenon of pro-ana). The main feature of anorexia is a reduction of caloric intake. According to the recommendations of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) for nutritional treatment of patients with AN the main goals in therapy of AN are: restoration of body weight, normalization of eating patterns, achievement a normal feeling of hunger and satiety and correction of the consequences of improper nutrition. APA suggests that achievable weight gain is about 0.9-1.4 kg per week in the case of hospitalized patients and approximately 0.23-0.45 kg per week in the case of outpatients. During the nutritional treatment of AN numerous side effects including anxiety, phobia, occurrence of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behavior, suicidal thoughts and intentions may occur. According to National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) the most important goal of AN therapy is weight gain in the range of 0.5-1 kg per week in hospitalized patients and 0.5 kg per week for outpatients. A person suffering from anorexia in the initial period of nutritional treatment spends twice more energy to maintain elevated body temperature, which significantly increases during the night rest. This phenomenon is called nocturnal hyperthermia and has a negative effect on the healing process. "Refeeding syndrome" is an adverse effect of nutritional treatment in anorexia. It is caused by too rapid nutrition in a patient suffering from chronic starvation. It can endanger the patient's life.

Refeeding syndrome in a young girl with anorexia nervosa.

We report the case of a 20-year-old anorexic girl (BMI=12.9), who was misdiagnosed the first time and developed severe electrolyte imbalances due to lack of awareness about refeeding syndrome. Few cases of RS have been reported in literature and protocols have been suggested for prevention and management of this syndrome, including the awareness of circumstances in which it is most likely to develop, refeeding slowly and building-up micronutrient content over several days. Improved awareness and understanding of refeeding syndrome along with a well-coordinated plan are vital in delivering safe and effective nutritional rehabilitation. We suggest a slow and gradual increase in nutrition along with nutritional counselling and psychotherapy.

[Review of nutritional and dietary management of anorexia nervosa]. / Revisión del tratamiento dietético-nutricional de la anorexia nerviosa.

While numerous studies have highlighted the need to approach anorexia nervosa from a multidisciplinary perspective, the dietary and nutritional aspects of the disorder are rarely considered in depth. Basic guidelines to monitor food intake of patients, are available. A literature review was performed in Medline, searching for articles related to the dietary and nutritional management of anorexia nervosa and published over the last five years. The final analysis focused on 102 articles. This review summarizes the different therapeutic contexts and objectives, nutritional support, the use of dietary supplements, the role of artificial nutrition, refeeding syndrome, involuntary treatment and nutritional education.

Revisión del tratamiento dietético-nutricional de la anorexia nerviosa / Review of nutritional and dietary management of anorexia nervosa

While numerous studies have highlighted the need to approach anorexia nervosa from a multidisciplinary perspective, the dietary and nutritional aspects of the disorder are rarely considered in depth. Basic guidelines to monitor food intake of patients, are available. A literature review was performed in Medline, searching for articles related to the dietary and nutritional management of anorexia nervosa and published over the last five years. Thefinal analysis focused on 102 articles. This review summarizes the different therapeutic contexts and objectives, nutritional support, the use of dietary supplements, the role of artificial nutrition, refeeding syndrome, involuntary treatment and nutritional education.

Protein intake and bone health.

Adequate nutrition plays an important role in the development and maintenance of bone structures resistant to usual mechanical stresses. In addition to calcium in the presence of an adequate supply of vitamin D, dietary proteins represent key nutrients for bone health and thereby function in the prevention of osteoporosis. Several studies point to a positive effect of high protein intake on bone mineral density or content. This fact is associated with a significant reduction in hip fracture incidence, as recorded in a large prospective study carried out in a homogeneous cohort of postmenopausal women. Low protein intake (< 0.8 g/kg body weight/day) is often observed in patients with hip fractures and an intervention study indicates that following orthopedic management, protein supplementation attenuates post-fracture bone loss, tends to increase muscle strength, and reduces medical complications and rehabilitation hospital stay. There is no evidence that high protein intake per se would be detrimental for bone mass and strength. Nevertheless, it appears reasonable to avoid very high protein diets (i. e. more than 2.0 g/kg body weight/day) when associated with low calcium intake (i. e. less than 600 mg/day). In the elderly, taking into account the attenuated anabolic response to dietary protein with ageing, there is concern that the current dietary protein recommended allowance (RDA), as set at 0.8 g/kg body weight/day, might be too low for the primary and secondary prevention of fragility fractures.

Anorexia y Bulimia Nerviosa. Aproximación nutricional / Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa. Nutritional approach

La prevalencia entre los adolescentes, de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria como anorexia nerviosa (AN), bulimia nerviosa (BN) y otro (obesidad, alimentación compulsiva, o no especificados), viene creciendo día a día de modo sostenido y a gran velocidad; y siendo la alimentación una necesidad básica, importante y vital para el crecimiento y desarrollo, debe entenderse que este acto ejerce una conducta poderosa influencia en la estructura y funcionamiento del organismo por lo tanto una conducta alimentaria adecuada hace posible que esto se desarrolle de manera adecuada y óptima. Cada sociedad tiene formas habituales de alimentarse según sus costumbres y características socioculturales y religiosas; cuando un individuo se aparta de los límites racionales presentando características anormales tanto en la calidad como en la cantidad o distribución de las comidas a esto se le llama ôTrastornos en la Conducta Alimentariaõ. El tratamiento de los trastornos en la conducta alimentaria representa todo un desafío de Salud Pública por su alta incidencia, gravedad y evolución clínica prolongada con propensión a la cronicidad y por el grupo etáreo afectado, por lo tanto, es indispensable buscar las herramientas que permitan una detección temprana y una intervención especializada con un equipo multidisciplinario que incluya médico, psicólogo, nutricionista, psiquiatría, de modo que el pronóstico de recuperación sea el mejor posible.

Micronutrient deficiencies and supplementation in anorexia and bulimia nervosa: a review of literature.

Anorexia and bulimia nervosa are characterized by unbalanced eating patterns that include inadequate dietary intake of various nutrients. Conservation mechanisms resulting from starvation and/or self-prescribed nutrient supplements can result in laboratory values that appear within normal limits. These artificially inflated values drop to dangerous levels in some patients once rehydration and refeeding begin. Electrolyte status must be closely monitored during this time to prevent complications. Other micronutrient deficiencies can be corrected with adequate dietary intake, but patients with eating disorders are unlikely to consume such an adequate diet immediately upon entering treatment, so they may benefit from supplementation. Depleted nutrient stores require longer supplementation than acute inadequacies in nutrient intake. This review compiles the findings reported to date regarding micronutrient deficiencies and supplementation for patients with anorexia and bulimia. Because of the widely varying eating practices from patient to patient and the current lack of data controlling for nutrient self-supplementation, nutrition assessment performed by a nutrition professional via food intake history may be more practical than laboratory tests and more accurate than current food intake for determining potential micronutrient deficiencies.

Specialized refeeding treatment for anorexia nervosa patients suffering from extreme undernutrition.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Refeeding severely malnourished patients with Anorexia nervosa requires specialized in-patient treatment to reduce medical risks, to avoid refeeding syndrome and other life-threatening situations. METHODS: The authors present a retrospective cohort nutritional rehabilitation study of 33 very severe Anorexia nervosa in-patients, aged 22.8 ± 7.6 years (mean ± SD) and with an initial body mass index ≤ 12 kg/m(2), treated in a specialized Eating Disorders Unit. RESULTS: Thirty-three female patients were included and treated. Mean BMI increased from 11.3 ± 0.7 Kg/m(2), to 13.5 ± 1 Kg/m(2), and mean body weight from 29.1 ± 3.2 Kg to 34.5 ± 3.3 Kg, after 60 days of intensive in-patient treatments (p < 0.0001). Feeding was carefully instituted; caloric intake levels were established after measuring REE by indirect calorimetry. Nutritional support was initiated with temporary nasogastric feeding in 30 patients, and with oral supplementation in 3 patients. Vitamins, potassium and phosphate supplements were administered during refeeding. All patients achieved a significant increase in body weight, none developed refeeding syndrome as far as laboratory and clinical investigations were concerned. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that, even in cases of extreme undernutrition, if feeding is performed cautiously and in a specialized unit, it is possible to avoid the refeeding syndrome.

Hypercaloric diets differing in fat composition have similar effects on serum leptin and weight gain in female subjects with anorexia nervosa.

Weight regain in subjects with anorexia nervosa is associated with an increase in serum leptin concentrations that is hypothesized to impair full weight restoration. As diets rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have been described to lower serum leptin concentrations, we tested the hypothesis that consumption of a hypercaloric diet rich in n-3 PUFA is associated with an attenuated increase in serum leptin and a higher efficiency of body weight gain in subjects with anorexia nervosa. Twenty-five female subjects with anorexia nervosa were enrolled into this controlled dietary intervention study. Four subjects discontinued therapy or participation in the study prematurely, and six were excluded. 15 subjects completed the study. Subjects consumed hypercaloric diets rich in either saturated fatty acids (SFA, n = 8) or n-3 PUFA (n = 7) for 5 weeks. Primary endpoints were the change in serum leptin concentrations and body weight gain relative to energy consumed. Serum leptin concentrations increased distinctly throughout the study (P < .001), and to a similar extend in both groups [+2.9 (SD 2.4) vs. +2.8 (SD 3.4) ng/mL in the SFA- and n-3 PUFA group, respectively; P = .487]. The efficiency of body weight gain also did not differ significantly between groups, with a body weight gain of 63.1 (SD 12.4) vs. 79.2 (SD 26.0) g per 4.2 MJ (1000 kcal) consumed in the SFA- and n-3 PUFA group, respectively (P = .132). Hypercaloric diets rich in either SFA or n-3 PUFA do not differ in their effects on serum leptin concentrations and the efficiency of body weight gain in female subjects with anorexia nervosa.