Evidence for long-term pancreatic damage caused by laxative abuse in subjects recovered from anorexia nervosa

Objective: This study examined whether a prior history of laxative abuse re sults in long-term changes in gastrointestinal function. Method: The functi oning of the enteroinsular axis was examined by measuring the insulin respo nse to a standard meal. The study involved 18 subjects who had fully recove red from anorexia nervosa (AN) and an age and weight-matched control group. In the recovered group, 10 of 18 subjects had a history of laxative abuse. Results: Subjects with a prior history of laxative abuse show a more gradu al increase and decrease in insulin secretion, but ho differences in glucos e response or hunger ratings. Discussion: Because there are no differences in the glucose response to the meal, it is hypothesized that the difference in insulin response is due to changes in the enteroinsular axis. These dat a indicate that chronic laxative abuse induces long-term changes in gastroi ntestinal function. (C) 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.