American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 42, 1183-1191, Copyright © 1985 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Alterations in vitamin A and thyroid hormone status in anorexia nervosa and associated disorders

J Curran-Celentano, JW Erdman Jr, RA Nelson and SJ Grater

Vitamin A and thyroid hormone status was investigated in 27 patients with anorexia nervosa. Subjects were divided into three groups based on eating behavior and serum carotene concentrations: anorexic (dietary restriction), normal carotene; anorexic, elevated serum carotene; bulimic, elevated serum carotene. All bulimic subjects fulfilling selection criteria were hypercarotenemic (weight loss and reduced metabolic rate). Data were compared to normal healthy volunteers. Serum retinol and retinol-binding protein levels were normal in all subjects whereas retinyl esters were elevated in the hypercarotenemic groups. Hypercarotenemia was primarily a result of elevation of vitamin A active carotenoids, especially beta-carotene. Diet was excluded from the etiology of hypercarotenemia. Thyroid hormones T4 and T3 were significantly depressed in hypercarotenemic groups and rT3 increased. A concomitant alteration in vitamin-hormone status is observed with progressive metabolic alterations: low T3, T4, and elevated retinyl esters in subjects with the hypercarotenemia associated with anorexia nervosa.

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