Premium
Hypothermia in anorexia nervosa: An increase in nonshivering thermogenesis?
Author(s) -
Nishita J. Ken,
Ellinwood Everett H.,
Rockwell W. J. Kenneth
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/1098-108x(198508)4:3<307::aid-eat2260040307>3.0.co;2-h
Subject(s) - hypothermia , anorexia nervosa , shivering , thermogenesis , hypoglycemia , brown adipose tissue , malnutrition , anorexia , homeothermy , thermoregulation , medicine , endocrinology , adipose tissue , physiology , diabetes mellitus , psychiatry , eating disorders
A variety of disturbances in thermoregulatory processes have been identified in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). Malnutrition, loss of thermal insulation, and hypoglycemia are generally accepted as the principal underlying mechanisms. Many of these thermoregulatory aberrations, however, may persist beyond the period of malnutrition and after substantial gains in body weight (in particular, hypothermia and an absence of shivering). It is proposed that during the course of the illness a physiologic state similar to that of cold‐adapted mammals may occur in AN patients. As a consequence of this aberrant physiologic state we postulate that an increase in functional nonshivering thermogenesis (NST) interferes with normal shivering responses to cold. An increase in functional brown adipose tissue is proposed to underlie the development of NST in AN patients.