Sex differences and similarities of hormonal alterations in patients with anorexia nervosa

The aim of the present study was to gain better insight into hormonal distu rbances in male patients with anorexia nervosa. It included six men with an orexia nervosa aged 13-26 years, with a mean body weight of 42.83+/-8.03 kg , a body mass index of 15.08+/-1.26 and an average degree of weight loss 29 .98+/-4.73%. The results were compared with those of 15 healthy age-matched males and 40 women with anorexia nervosa. Prolactin, growth hormone and th e gonadal and thyroid axis were studied in detail. The gonadotropin basal l evels and their responses to gonadotropin-releasing hormone in male patient s were lower, but not significantly, in comparison with healthy men. The ba sal levels and the responses of luteinizing hormone in anorexic women were significantly lower in comparison with female controls, but the decreased b asal level of follicle-stimulating hormone showed an exaggerated response t o gonadotropin-releasing hormone. In male anorexics the testosterone levels (7.1+/-10.9 nmol l(-1))were significantly lower. The changes in the thyroi d axis and in prolactin secretion were almost the same in male and female p atients. The data of this study suggest that endocrine disturbances in male s are similar to those in females with anorexia nervosa, but differences ex ist mainly in relation to the gonadal axis.