CONTROLLED TRIAL OF ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION IN ANOREXIA-NERVOSA

Zinc supplementation of anorexia nervosa (AN) patients has been report ed to increase the weight gain of AN patients in open trials. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial 100 mg of zinc gluc onate, or placebo, was given daily to 35 female AN inpatients until th ey achieved a 10% increase in body mass index (BMI). The rate of incre ase in BMI of the zinc supplemented group (n = 16) was twice that of t he placebo group (n = 19), and this difference was statistically signi ficant (p = .03). The use of zinc supplementation should be considered in the treatment of AN patients. (C) 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.