Neuroendocrine Unit, Bulfinch 457B, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
J Clin Psychiatry. 2011 Nov;72(11):1546-51. doi: 10.4088/JCP.10m06617. Epub 2011 Aug 9.
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by self-induced starvation and associated with severe bone and fat loss. Oxytocin is a peptide hormone involved in appetite and energy homeostasis. Recent data show that oxytocin has an anabolic effect on bone and stimulates osteoblast function. There is limited information about oxytocin levels or their relationship to decreased bone mineral density in anorexia nervosa. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between oxytocin levels, bone mineral density, and body composition in women with anorexia nervosa.
We studied 36 women, mean ± SEM age 27.6 ± 1.3 years: 17 with DSM-IV anorexia nervosa and 19 healthy controls in a cross-sectional study. Oxytocin levels were determined from pooled serum samples obtained every 20 minutes from 8 pm to 8 am during an inpatient overnight visit. Fasting leptin levels were measured. Bone mineral density at the anterior-posterior and lateral spine and hip and body composition were assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. The study was conducted from September 2004 to June 2008.
Subjects with anorexia nervosa versus healthy controls had lower mean ± SEM oxytocin levels (14.3 ± 1.5 vs 31.8 ± 5.1 pg/mL, P = .003), leptin levels (2.7 ± 0.5 vs 11.4 ± 1.1 ng/mL, P < .0001), bone mineral density (anterior-posterior spine: 0.83 ± 0.02 vs 1.04 ± 0.03; lateral spine: 0.63 ± 0.02 vs 0.81 ± 0.02; total hip: 0.79 ± 0.03 vs 0.97 ± 0.03 g/cm², P < .0001), and fat mass (8.8 ± 0.6 vs 19.7 ± 0.9 kg, P < .0001). Oxytocin levels were associated with bone mineral density at the anterior-posterior (r = 0.40, P = .02) and lateral (r = 0.36, P = .04) spine, fat mass (r = 0.42, P = .01), and leptin levels (r = 0.55, P = .001).
Overnight secretion of oxytocin in women with anorexia nervosa is decreased compared with healthy women. Low oxytocin levels are associated with decreased bone mineral density and body fat and may contribute to anorexia nervosa-induced bone loss.
神经性厌食症的特征是自我诱导的饥饿，伴随着严重的骨和脂肪流失。催产素是一种参与食欲和能量平衡的肽激素。最近的数据表明，催产素有促进骨骼合成的作用，并刺激成骨细胞功能。关于神经性厌食症中催产素水平及其与骨密度降低的关系，信息有限。我们的目的是研究神经性厌食症妇女中催产素水平、骨密度和身体成分之间的关系。
我们在一项横断面研究中研究了 36 名女性，平均年龄为 27.6 ± 1.3 岁：17 名符合 DSM-IV 神经性厌食症标准，19 名健康对照者。在住院过夜期间，从晚上 8 点到早上 8 点，每 20 分钟从汇集的血清样本中测定催产素水平。测量禁食瘦素水平。通过双能 X 射线吸收法评估前后脊柱、臀部和髋部的骨密度和身体成分。该研究于 2004 年 9 月至 2008 年 6 月进行。
与健康对照组相比，神经性厌食症患者的平均催产素水平（14.3 ± 1.5 与 31.8 ± 5.1 pg/mL，P =.003）、瘦素水平（2.7 ± 0.5 与 11.4 ± 1.1 ng/mL，P <.0001）、骨密度（前后脊柱：0.83 ± 0.02 与 1.04 ± 0.03；侧脊柱：0.63 ± 0.02 与 0.81 ± 0.02；总髋部：0.79 ± 0.03 与 0.97 ± 0.03 g/cm²，P <.0001）和脂肪量（8.8 ± 0.6 与 19.7 ± 0.9 kg，P <.0001）均较低。催产素水平与前后脊柱（r = 0.40，P =.02）和侧脊柱（r = 0.36，P =.04）、脂肪量（r = 0.42，P =.01）和瘦素水平（r = 0.55，P =.001）相关。
与健康女性相比，神经性厌食症妇女夜间分泌的催产素减少。低催产素水平与骨密度和体脂降低有关，可能导致神经性厌食症引起的骨丢失。
