Changes in Growth Hormone Secretion in Women with Anorexia Nervosa

Issue: 3/2003

The purpose of the study was to clarify the disturbances of growth hormone secretion in women with anorexia nervosa. We have studied 40 patients aged 17 to 37 years with duration of the disease from 3 to 204 months, body weight 31,2 -48 kg and body mass index 15,29 ± 1,72 kg/m². Growth hormone (GH) was followed after 200 jug thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), standard oral glucose tolerance test and after 10 mg 2 ml metoclopramide (central D₂ antagonist). Fifteen aged matched women with normal weight and regular menstrual cycles served as controls.

The basal GH levels in the women with anorexia nervosa (12,31 ± 16,49 mlU/l) were significantly elevated in comparison to the healthy subjects (4,91 ± 3,24 mlU/l, p<0,05). We have found a positive significant correlation between GH and percentage of weight loss (r = +0,352, p < 0,05) as well as with the fasting blood glucose levels (r= +0,790, p< 0,001) and a negative correlation with body mass index (r = -0,305, p<0,05). We found a paradoxical increase of GH levels after oral glucose tolerance test at 120th and 180th minutes, a well pronounced response after TRH test with significantly elevated concentrations at 30th, 60th and 90th minutes. Decreased GH levels after metoclopramide were observed after 60th minute. The data of this study shows that the alterations in GH secretion might be due to the disturbances in the neurotransmitters in the hypothalamus as well as a result of adaptive mechanism to the hypoglycemia.

Keywords: growth hormone, anorexia nervosa, OGTT, TRH test.