Vaspin (but not neuropeptide B or neuropeptide W) as a possible predictor of body weight normalization in anorexia nervosa.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlation between the nutritional status of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and levels of vaspin (VASP), neuropeptide B (NPB), neuropeptide W (NPW) and total antioxidant status (TAS).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Ninety serum samples collected from 30 teenage female patients during the acute stage of AN and 30 healthy persons (CONTR) were subjected to biochemical analysis; patients with AN were examined at the beginning of the study (AN-I) and after hospitalization (AN-II), as a result of which partial stabilization of anthropometric measurements was achieved (an increase of body mass index (BMI) by 3.5 kg/m).

RESULTS

Vaspin levels dropped at the end of the hospitalization (compared to AN-I, < 0.05), achieving values comparable to the CONTR; moreover there was a positive correlation between VASP level and the achieved body weight in AN-II ( < 0.05). Positive correlations were also noted with regard to VASP vs. NPB in AN-I ( < 0.02) (and AN-II, < 0.013), as well as in the case of VASP vs. NPW in the same groups ( < 0.02 and < 0.015, respectively). NPB concentration was higher in AN-I ( < 0.05) and AN-II ( < 0.018) than in CONTR, whereas there were no differences ( > 0.05) with regard to levels of VASP, NPW, or TAS.

CONCLUSIONS

The high level of NPB despite treatment and normalization of VASP level may suggest that there are chronic neuroendocrine disorders at play in anorexia nervosa.