On serum albumin in anorexia nervosa

Micronutrient Status in 153 Patients with Anorexia Nervosa

Micronutrient status in Anorexia Nervosa (AN) has been poorly documented and previous data are often contradictory. We aimed to assess micronutrient status in a large population of AN patients. The relationships between micronutrient status and body composition were also determined. Anthropometric, biochemical parameters and body composition data were collected at referral in 153 patients with AN (28.5 ± 11 years). At least one trace element deficit was observed in almost half of patients; the most frequent was selenium deficit (40% of patients). At least one vitamin deficit was observed in 45.7% of patients, mostly vitamin A and B9. Albumin, transthyretin and CRP were within normal range in most patients. No correlations were found between body composition and micronutrient status. Our study suggests that micronutrient status is often altered in AN patients, which may contribute to neuropsychiatric dysfunction. Monitoring of micronutrients and correction of deficits should be included in the routine care of AN patients.

Evolução nutricional de pacientes com transtornos alimentares: experiência de 30 anos de um Hospital Universitário

OBJETIVO: Descrever a evolução do estado nutricional e dos parâmetros bioquímicos de pacientes com anorexia nervosa e bulimia nervosa internados para tratamento durante seguimento em serviço especializado. MÉTODOS: Foram revisados todos os prontuários dos pacientes em seguimento pelo serviço de 1982 a 2011, que foram internados para tratamento. Dados sociodemográficos, peso, altura e exames bioquímicos foram coletados no início e final da internação. RESULTADOS: No período referido, 83 pacientes com diagnóstico de anorexia ou bulimia nervosa foram internados para tratamento. A maioria era do sexo feminino (95,2%) raça branca (94,0%), solteira (76,0%) e sem filhos (78,3%). O diagnóstico predominante foi de anorexia nervosa (85,5%), sobretudo em seu tipo restritivo (54,2%). O índice de massa corporal médio dos pacientes adultos (n=41) evoluiu de 16,53±4,9 para 17,47±4,3kg/m² (p<0,05). Para as crianças e adolescentes (n=38), passou de 13,78±2,57 para 15,11±2,99kg/m² (p<0,05). Os valores médios da maioria dos parâmetros bioquímicos estavam dentro do limite da normalidade e, apenas o betacaroteno, manteve-se em níveis médios acima da normalidade no início e final da internação. Os valores de albumina, hematócrito, lipoproteína de alta densidade e potássio melhoraram ao final da internação (p<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: A hospitalização integral, apesar das dificuldades e da complexidade inerentes ao tratamento dos transtornos alimentares, considerando-se principalmente a resistência frente à recuperação do peso, pode proporcionar melhoria no estado nutricional e normalização de diversos parâmetros bioquímicos.

Is it an eating disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, or both?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The authors examine the differential diagnosis for gastrointestinal disorders that should be considered in individuals who present with nonspecific gastrointestinal and nutritional complaints suggestive of an eating disorder.

RECENT FINDINGS

This review first identifies diseases with which eating disorders are often confused and then explores features in the history, physical examination, and laboratory studies, which can provide clues to the cause of the patient's symptoms. In addition, it discusses the recommended evaluation and treatments for the gastrointestinal diseases that most commonly mimic the presentation of eating disorders including Crohn disease (CrD), celiac disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).

SUMMARY

The ubiquitous nature of the gastrointestinal complaints requires the clinician to consider a broad differential diagnosis when evaluating a patient for an eating disorder.

The clinical biochemistry of anorexia nervosa

In anorexia nervosa, under-nutrition and weight regulatory behaviours such as vomiting and laxative abuse can lead to a range of biochemical problems. Hypokalaemia is the most common electrolyte abnormality. Metabolic alkalosis occurs in patients who vomit or abuse diuretics and acidosis in those misusing laxatives. Hyponatraemia is often due to excessive water ingestion, but may also occur in chronic energy deprivation or diuretic misuse. Urea and creatinine are generally low and normal concentrations may mask dehydration or renal dysfunction. Abnormalities of liver enzymes are predominantly characterized by elevation of aminotransferases, which may occur before or during refeeding. The serum albumin is usually normal, even in severely malnourished patients. Amenorrhoea is due to hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. Reduced concentrations of free T4 and free T3 are frequently reported and T4 is preferentially converted to reverse T3. Cortisol is elevated but the response to adrenocorticotrophic hormone is normal. Hypoglycaemia is common. Hypercholesterolaemia is a common finding but its significance for cardiovascular risk is uncertain. A number of micronutrient deficiencies can occur. Other abnormalities include hyperamylasaemia, hypercarotenaemia and elevated creatine kinase. There is an increased prevalence of eating disorders in type 1 diabetes and the intentional omission of insulin is associated with impaired metabolic control. Refeeding may produce electrolyte abnormalities, hyper- and hypoglycaemia, acute thiamin depletion and fluid balance disturbance; careful biochemical monitoring and thiamin replacement are therefore essential during refeeding. Future research should address the management of electrolyte problems, the role of leptin and micronutrients, and the possible use of biochemical markers in risk stratification.

Is serum albumin a marker of malnutrition in chronic disease? The scleroderma paradigm

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is common in many chronic diseases, but physicians may rely on a low albumin value before deciding that malnutrition is present.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the relationship between serum albumin and malnutrition in systemic sclerosis (SSc) as a paradigm for other chronic diseases.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional, multicenter study of patients from the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group Registry. We used the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) to evaluate patients for malnutrition. Disease extent was measured in several ways, including physician global assessment. Multiple linear regression was performed to identify independent predictors of serum albumin.

RESULTS

Two hundred fifty-eight patients were studied. The mean (SD) serum albumin level was 44.4 (4.2) g/L. Only 2% of the values were below normal and all these patients were in MUST category > or =2, or high risk for malnutrition, which included 21.3% of the cohort. MUST, shorter disease duration, greater disease severity (physician global assessment of disease severity and modified Rodnan skin score), and greater disease activity (physician global assessment of disease activity, C-reactive protein, and Scleroderma Disease Activity Index) all correlated significantly but weakly with albumin. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that a higher MUST score and worse disease severity were independently associated with lower serum albumin, but only 7% of the variance of albumin was explained in the adjusted model.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum albumin is not useful as a marker for malnutrition in SSc and should not be assumed to be useful as a marker in other chronic diseases. More attention should be paid to clinical features of malnutrition, including assessment of body mass index and unplanned weight loss, and overall disease severity.

Serum prealbumin and albumin concentrations do not reflect nutritional state in children with cerebral palsy

Serum prealbumin concentration (PALB) and albumin concentration (ALB) were evaluated as markers of undernutrition in 107 children with cerebral palsy (CP) age 2 to 18 years. PALB and ALB were rarely below the normal reference ranges and showed little to no correlation with anthropometric measures (eg, skinfolds, midarm fat area), growth (height), severity of CP (eg, feeding dysfunction, motor impairment), or general health.