Potential regulators of feeding behavior in anorexia nervosa

Anthony M. Uhe, George I. Szmukler, Greg R. Collier, Jack Hansky, Kerin O'Dea, Graham P. Young

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75 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We recruited 10 patients with anorexia nervosa and 6 age- and height-matched control subjects. Basal and postprandial concentrations of glucose, insulin, cholesterol, amino acids gastrin, and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) were measured in response to a standard mixed meal. The only satiety signal that was significantly different between the anorectic group and the control group was PP (P < 0.001). Tryptophan-LNAA and tyrosine-LNAA ratios were not significantly different in the two groups; however, there was a trend toward a lower tryptophan-LNAA ratio in the anorectic group. Gastrin concentrations were significantly decreased in the anorectic group (P < 0.001) as were basal insulin concentrations (P < 0.05). Decreased gastrin concentrations may play a role in the gastric symptoms associated with anorexia nervosa. Previous findings that PP release is diminished in obesity, together with the present findings of PP increase in anorexia nervosa, suggest that this peptide may play a role in appetite control mechanisms.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)28-32
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Volume55
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1992
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Amino acids
  • Anorexia nervosa
  • Appetite
  • Gastrin
  • Pancreatic polypeptide
  • Satiety
  • Serotonin

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