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Changes of orexin A plasma levels in girls with anorexia nervosa during eight weeks of realimentation
Author(s) -
Bronsky Jiri,
Nedvidkova Jara,
Krasnicanova Hana,
Vesela Marie,
Schmidtova Jana,
Koutek Jiri,
Kellermayer Richard,
Chada Martin,
Kabelka Zdenek,
Hrdlicka Michal,
Nevoral Jiri,
Prusa Richard
Publication year - 2011
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/eat.20857
Subject(s) - anorexia nervosa , psychology , orexin a , endocrinology , medicine , orexin , eating disorders , clinical psychology , neuropeptide , receptor
Objective: Orexin A (OXA) is a hypothalamic neuropeptide involved in regulation of food intake and nutritional status. There are multiple disturbances of neuropeptide signaling described in girls with anorexia nervosa (AN), but OXA levels have not been addressed in this population to date. Therefore, we analyzed OXA levels of AN girls in this study. Method: OXA (radioimmunoassay/RIA/method), leptin, insulinlike growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1), and insulinlike growth factor‐1 binding protein‐3 (IGFBP‐3) levels were measured before and after 8 weeks of realimentation in 36 girls with AN and in 14 healthy controls (control group: CG). Results: Average weight increased significantly in AN during the study ( p < .0001), while plasma levels of OXA decreased (before realimentation: 56.2 ± 2.4 pg/ml; after realimentation: 47.5 ± 1.4 pg/ml; p = .0025). OXA levels before realimentation differed from levels in the CG (47.15 ± 2.6 pg/ml, p = .034), but not afterward. We did not find any correlation between OXA and age, height, weight, BMI; or IGF‐1, IGFBP‐3, and leptin levels. Discussion: OXA levels in untreated AN patients differ significantly from healthy subjects and decrease during realimentation. These findings indicate that OXA may be involved in the nutritional regulation of malnourished children and adolescents. © 2010 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2011