Differential glucose metabolism in weight restored women with anorexia nervosa

Continuous glucose monitoring for detection of glycemic variability, hypoglycemia, and hyperglycemia in women with eating disorders

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, glycemic variability (GV), and eating behavior by measuring daily glucose levels through an intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) system in outpatients classified according to eating disorder subtypes.

Methods

We analyzed data for 18 patients (four ANR, nine ANBP, and five BN cases). A FreeStyle Libre Pro® device was attached to the posterior aspect of the upper arm for glucose monitoring. This device conducted measurements every 15 min for five consecutive days. We estimated the mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE), hypoglycemia, and hyperglycemia.

Results

The mean glucose levels were 91.1 ± 2.2 mg/dL in the ANR group, 94.8 ± 7.5 mg/dL in the ANBP group, and 87.1 ± 8.0 mg/dL in the BN group (P = 0.174). The overall mean MAGE index was 52.8 ± 20.5 mg/dL. The mean MAGE values according to the subtypes were 42.2 ± 5.6 mg/dL in the ANR group, 57.4 ± 23.7 mg/dL in the ANBP group, and 53.0 ± 21.8 mg/dL in the BN group (P = 0.496). Over the course of five days, the frequency of hypoglycemia was as follows: three occurrences in the ANBP group, five occurrences in the BN group, and no occurrences in the ANR group (P = 0.016). Moreover, the occurrence of hypoglycemia was statistically significantly higher in the BN group than in the ANR group (P = 0.013). In the BN group, the frequency of hypoglycemia was highest between 2 and 6 AM, while hypoglycemia was observed throughout the day in the ANBP group. The frequency of hyperglycemia was one occurrence in the ANR group, one occurrence in the BN group, and zero occurrences in the ANBP group (P = 0.641).

Conclusions

Varying GV, hypoglycemia, and hyperglycemia were observed in all subtypes of eating disorders. Our findings suggest that eating behaviors such as binge eating and purging are associated with GV and hypoglycemia. We showed the importance of developing different nutritional approaches tailored to the subtype of eating disorder to prevent hypoglycemia. Additional studies are needed to explore the relationship between glucose levels and eating behaviors in patients with eating disorders.

Eating disorders and carbohydrate metabolism interrelations

Introduction: Eating disorders are characterised by persistent disturbances in eating behavior, resulting in severe carbohydrate homeostasis changes. The aim of the study is to review mutual correlations between eating disorders, with emphasis on anorexia nervosa, and carbohydrate metabolism, including glycemia and the levels of relevant hormones.

Material and methods: A priori general inclusion criteria were established and included patients with eating disorders or with glucose metabolism disorders. A MEDLINE database review was carried out. Relevant articles have been extracted and approved by supervisor.

Results: 40 studies got included in the review. Patients with active anorexia nervosa display low levels of fasting and postprandial glucose, decreased lipid metabolism, and decreased pancreatic endocrine activity. Insulin levels remain changed even after patient’s re-nourishment – insulin response tends to be delayed and decreased compared to patients without anorexia history. Eating disorders are associated with poorer glycemic control and a higher percentage of diabetic complications in patients with pre-existing diabetes – mostly type I. There are also reports of higher carbohydrate metabolism disturbances among patients with eating disorders.

Conclusions: Carbohydrate metabolism disorders and eating disorders are clearly interrelated, although data on the nature of these relationships are still lacking. Treatment of eating disorders is not possible without normalizing eating patterns, thus also carbohydrate metabolism. However, it is not usual to monitor the mental state in terms of eating disorders potential development in patients during the treatment of carbohydrate disorders. According to existing data, this approach should be changed due to the risk of anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders in this group.

The association between leptin and weight maintenance outcome in anorexia nervosa

OBJECTIVE

Relapse after weight restoration in anorexia nervosa (AN) is a critical problem. Higher body fat percentage after weight gain has been shown to predict better weight maintenance outcome. Leptin, a fat-derived hormone, has been associated with progress during weight gain, but its association with weight maintenance is unknown. This study aims to determine whether leptin levels after weight restoration in AN are associated with weight maintenance.

METHOD

Participants were 41 women with AN hospitalized for inpatient treatment. Participants were evaluated 2-4 weeks after weight restoration to body mass index (BMI) ≥ 19.5 kg/m² for plasma leptin and body composition. Weight maintenance outcome was defined by whether a participant maintained a BMI of at least 18.5 kg/m² at the end of 1 year following hospital discharge.

RESULTS

Twenty (48.8%) out of 41 patients maintained their weight at 1 year. Percent body fat and leptin were significantly higher in the group who maintained weight (body fat, p = .004, Hedges' g = 0.944; log-leptin, p = .010, Hedges' g = 0.821), but there were no differences in predischarge BMI, duration of illness, and duration of amenorrhea. Using regression modeling, only higher log-leptin (p_Wald = .021) and percent body fat (p_Wald = .010), as well as fat-adjusted leptin (p_Wald = .029), independently predicted weight maintenance at 1 year.

DISCUSSIONS

Our findings suggest that for acutely-weight restored women with AN, higher predischarge leptin measurements are associated with better outcome in the year following treatment. Prospective studies examining leptin as well as other parameters of metabolic health could offer insights into biomarkers that may improve clinical outcomes.

Increased plasma asprosin levels in patients with drug-naive anorexia nervosa

PURPOSE

Asprosin is a centrally acting appetite-promoting hormone and promotes glucose production in the liver. This study is the first to investigate the difference in asprosin in the plasma between anorexia nervosa (AN) and healthy controls, and to explore the relationship between asprosin changes and plasma glucose levels and AN symptoms.

METHODS

Plasma asprosin and glucose concentrations were detected in AN patients (n = 46) and healthy control subjects (n = 47). Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2) was used to assess subjects' eating disorder symptoms and related personality traits. The patient's concomitant levels of depression and anxiety were also measured using the beck depression inventory and beck anxiety inventory, respectively.

RESULTS

Results indicate that AN patients had a higher asprosin concentration in their plasma compared to healthy controls (p = 0.033). Among AN patients, plasma asprosin levels correlated positively with EDI-2 interoceptive awareness subscale score (p = 0.030) and negatively with duration of illness (p = 0.036). Multiple linear regression analyses showed that increases in asprosin levels (p = 0.029), glucose levels (p = 0.024) and body mass index (p = 0.003) were associated with an increase of the score of EDI-2 bulimia subscale.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the increase in plasma asprosin concentration in patients with AN may be a compensation for the body's energy shortage, and asprosin may be involved in the development of bulimia and lack of interoceptive awareness in AN patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, case-control analytic study.