PROTEIN REPLETION AND TREATMENT IN ANOREXIA-NERVOSA

Body fat and total body nitrogen (TBN) were quantified before and afte r refeeding in 32 female anorexia nervosa patients and in 29 matched c ontrol subjects by using the techniques of anthropometry and in vivo n eutron-capture analysis (IVNCA). Mean body weight of patients (mean bo dy mass index; BMI, in kg/m(2)), 15.4+/-1.3, was 72.7% of that of cont rol subjects, increasing to 89.8% of mean weight of control subjects a fter refeeding (mean BMI 19.0+/-1.2). Mean BMI of control subjects was 21.6+/-2.7. Compared with the control group, patients' nitrogen was i nitially depleted by 24.5%, increased by 18.4%, but remained 10.6% bel ow control values (P<0.001). Body fat was depleted by 58.4%, increased by 89.7%, but remained 21.8% below control values (P<0.001). Thus, de spite a greater initial depletion and subsequently a greater net gain, body fat remained relatively more depleted after treatment than did n itrogen and protein. Anorexia nervosa patients were shown to readily r eplenish protein during nutritional rehabilitation.