Adrenal activity in anorexia nervosa

• Published in: Psychosomatic medicine 1978-10, Vol.40 (6), p.499-506
• Main Authors: Walsh, B T, Katz, J L, Levin, J, Kream, J, Fukushima, D K, Hellman, L D, Weiner, H, Zumoff, B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adrenal Cortex - drug effects; Adrenal Cortex - physiopathology; Adult; Anorexia Nervosa - physiopathology; Dexamethasone - administration & dosage; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone - metabolism
• ISSN: 0033-3174
• DOI: 10.1097/00006842-197810000-00005

Adrenocortical activity was studied in 19 emaciated women with anorexia nervosa. Relative to body size the patients' mean cortisol production rates of 0.591 mg/kg/day and 16.4 mg m2/day were significantly elevated compared to those of 0.322 mg/kg/day and 11.4 mg/m2/day for age and sex matched normal controls (p less than 0.001 and 0.02, respectively). The 24-hr mean plasma cortisol concentration in 18 patients was 10.6 microgram/dl and was significantly higher than that of the controls (6.8 microgram/dl, p less than 0.001). The average excretion of urinary free cortisol in nine patients was 205 microgram/day, significantly greater than that of 65 microgram/day in the controls (less than 0.01). Three patients underwent overnight suppression with 1 mg of dexamethasone and had inadequate responses. These data suggest that cortisol production is excessive in emaciated patients with anorexia nervosa due to a disturbance of the hypothalamic-pituitary mechanisms regulating adrenocortical function. The excessive adrenal activity may reflect certain psychobiological disturbances as well as the effects of malnutrition.