Endocrine complications of anorexia nervosa.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review without systematic search methodology or original data
PubMed 36793059 · doi:10.1186/s40337-023-00744-9
What was done
The authors reviewed the pathophysiology and clinical management of endocrine complications associated with anorexia nervosa, summarizing current clinical recommendations and identifying gaps in research regarding specific patient demographics.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data. It qualitatively describes starvation-induced endocrine abnormalities, including functional hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, low testosterone in men, low thyroid hormone levels, low bone mineral density, and elevated fracture risk, noting that most complications reverse upon weight restoration.
Why it matters
This review synthesizes the endocrine consequences of anorexia nervosa, highlighting that weight recovery is the primary driver of hormonal and bone density normalization while identifying major evidence gaps in male and gender-minority patients.
Limits
As a narrative review, no systematic search methodology, meta-analytic pooling, or sample size is provided in the abstract. Additionally, existing research heavily skews toward cisgender female patients, leaving endocrine management in men and sexual or gender minorities poorly studied.
Cited by
- supports Acute starvation causes women to become infertile.