Bone Mineral Density after Weight Gain in 160 Patients with Anorexia Nervosa

Low bone mineral density (BMD) is a frequent complication in anorexia nervosa (AN). There are controversial points of views regarding the restoration of bone mineralization after recovery in AN. We aimed to assess changes of BMD at 3 years in patients with AN and to explore the relationships between body composition, physical activity, and BMD. Patients with AN were included from 2009 to 2011 in a first visit (T0) with evaluation of weight, height, body mass index (BMI), body composition [fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass], and BMD. Those who had low BMD, either osteoporosis or osteopenia, were admitted in a second visit (T1) to carry out a new bone densitometry examination and body composition; they were also asked for their physical activity. At T0, our study involved 160 patients. Low BMD was observed in 53.6% of them and significant factors associated with demineralization were lower BMIs (16.5 ± 2.1 vs 17.3 ± 2.3 kg/m², p = 0.01) and higher duration of AN (11.4 ± 10.5 vs 6.4 ± 6.5 years, p = 0.001). At 3 years follow-up (T1), 42 patients were involved and no significant changes in BMD were observed despite body weight increase (3.8 ± 6.1 kg). Interestingly, FM gain was a significant factor associated with BMD improvement at follow-up (8.0 ± 9.1 vs 3.0 ± 3.5 kg, p = 0.02). Our findings suggest that the restoration of normal bone values is not related to the increase of body weight, at least after 3 years. FM seems to play an important role in the pathophysiological mechanism of osteoporosis and osteopenia in AN.

Introduction

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterized by a difficulty to maintain minimal weight, a fear of gaining weight, a disturbed body image, often associated with denial based on criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (1). Two subtypes have been descripted, the restricting subtype with primarily loss of weight through significant reductions in caloric intake, and the binge-eating subtype with recurrent binge-eating and purging through self-induced vomiting or laxative misuse. AN is a potentially serious disease; a mortality rate of 5–10% at 10 years has been reported, making it the psychiatric disorder with the highest mortality (2), although more recent studies report less severe mortality rates (3). AN is associated with multiple and severe somatic complications related to malnutrition including bradycardia, hypotension, anemia, and hormonal imbalance (4). AN is also associated with significant psychiatric comorbid conditions, including anxiety, depression, obsessive–compulsive disorders, and excess physical exercise referred as hyperactivity (5, 6).

Low bone mineral density (BMD) is a frequent complication in AN: 38% of patients with AN suffer from osteoporosis and 92% from osteopenia (7). Impaired bone metabolism in AN is multifactorial and includes hormonal changes (8) and reduction of anabolic effect of muscle contraction on the bone, which is directly related to lean body mass (9). Conventional bed rest imposed to patients with AN is probably detrimental on BMD, since immobilization is a well-established risk factor for bone loss (10). Historically, the main treatment of low BMD during AN relies mainly on compensation of calcium-vitamin D depletion (11), but has a limited efficacy in the absence of efficient refeeding (12). Furthermore, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among adolescent girls with AN have been reported to be only 2% compared with 24% in healthy controls (13) probably due to an increased use of supplements. Moreover, the benefit of bisphosphonates for the treatment of BMD during AN is not established (14), although Miller et al. have previously reported a significant increase in BMD in adult women with AN with risedronate compared with placebo in a 1-year follow-up study (15). Other studies have reported a decrease in bone turn-over with bisphosphonates, particularly in adolescent patients with AN (16).

Thus, recovery of BMD in AN is described as a slow process with complex interactions between hormonal and nutritional factors (17). There are controversial point of views in the literature regarding the restoration of bone mineralization after recovery in AN. The purpose of this study was to assess changes of BMD at 3 years in patients with AN and to explore the relationships between body composition, physical activity, and BMD at the first visit and at follow-up.

Materials and Methods

Population and Study Design

The study started in 2009 with the inclusion of patients with AN diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV criteria. Both restricting subtype (AN-R) and binge-eating subtype (AN-M) were included. This retrospective study involved adult women patients (older than 18 years), addressed by their primary care doctor, from 2009 to 2011. In a first visit (T0), every patient has been evaluated for weight, height, body mass index (BMI), body composition [fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM)], and BMD. At T0, 160 patients with AN were involved (Table 1). The mean age was 28.3 ± 10 years, and the mean disease duration before the first visit was 7.5 ± 8.3 years. Of the 160 patients, 97 (61.8%) had restricting subtype (AN-R), while 63 (38.2%) had binge-eating subtype (AN-M). Mean weight and BMI was, respectively, 42.2 ± 5.3 kg and 17.06 ± 2.6 kg/m². Mean FM and FFM was, respectively, 19.7 ± 20.2 and 93.5 ± 19.4%.

TABLE 1

Table 1. Anthropometric data at the first visit (T0).

The patients were followed-up in the Department of Clinical Nutrition (University Medical Center, Rouen, France). The patients who had low BMD for age at T0, either osteoporosis or osteopenia were admitted in a second visit (T1) to carry out a new bone densitometry examination and body composition. At T1, patients were also asked for their physical activity. (Do you practice regular exercise?) Since many patients refused to participate or were lost, this second visit involved 42 patients with AN, aged from 22 to 45 years (Figure 1). Of the patients, 33 had pure restrictive form (AN-R) and 9 had mixed form (AN-M). Weight and BMIs was, respectively, 46.1 ± 7.7 kg and 19.01 ± 3.1 kg/m². From T0 to T1, body weight was increased (3.8 ± 6.1 kg). At T1, FM gain was significantly higher in restricting subtype than binge-eating subtype (4.5 ± 4.9 vs 0.5 ± 1.6 kg, p < 0.05). Restricting subtype had a slight FFM gain, whereas binge-eating subtype had a FFM loss (+0.3 ± 3.2 vs −0.4 ± 2.2 kg, ns) but difference did not reach significance. The mean duration period from T0 to T1 was 3.0 ± 1.4 years (Table 2).

FIGURE 1

Figure 1. Percentage of anorectic patients according to bone mineral density (BMD) status changes. BMD status was followed in 42 anorexia nervosa (AN) patients. BMD status was classified as BMD loss (open bars), stable (gray bars), or improvement (black bars).

TABLE 2

Table 2. Influence of body composition (FM and FFM), body mass index (BMI), and disease duration on bone mineral density at T0.

This study complies with the International Declaration of Helsinki and we obtained a written consent from all the patients. The study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee for Non-Interventional Studies (CERNI).

Measurement of BMD

Lumbar spine and hip BMD, as well as body composition (FFM and FM), were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry using Lunar Prodigy Advance osteodensitometer (General Electric Healthcare). The results of BMD were expressed as T-scores and we considered that patients with −2.5 ≤ T-score < −1 had osteopenia and patients with T-score < −2.5 had osteoporosis.

Statistical Analysis

All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 10.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), and a p < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. Continuous data were presented as the mean ± SD, and categorical data were presented as count and percentage (%). Statistical analyses between AN subtypes and BMD evolution (recovery or aggravation) were performed using the Chi² test for categorical variables comparison and the Mann–Whitney U test for continuous variables. The Wilcoxon signed-rank was used for analyses comparing repeated BMD measurements during the follow-up (T0–T1).

Results

First Visit (T0)

Bone Mineral Density

At the first visit, low BMD for age (osteoporosis or osteopenia) was observed in 53.6% of the 160 patients (Figure 2). Factors associated with BMD decrease have been identified in Table 2. Patients with low BMD at the hip had significantly lower BMIs (16.5 ± 2.1 vs 17.3 ± 2.3 kg/m², p = 0.01) and higher duration of AN (11.4 ± 10.5 vs 6.4 ± 6.5 years, p = 0.001). Patients with low BMD at the spine exhibited a trend for a lower FM (14.8 ± 8.7 vs 17.3 ± 7.7%, p = 0.08, Table 2).

FIGURE 2

Figure 2. Percentage of anorectic patients according to bone mineral density (BMD) status at inclusion. BMD was evaluated in 160 anorexia nervosa patients who were classified as normal BMD (open bars), osteopenia (gray bars), and osteoporosis (black bars).

Follow-up (T1)

Bone Mineral Density

At T1 (Table 3), no significant changes in BMD were observed at the spine or hip (T-score: +0.1 ± 0.6 and −0.1 ± 0.5, Table 4). Indeed, BMD remained similar in 71.3 and 84.2% of patients at the hip and spine, respectively (Figure 2). Interestingly, 14.3% of patients had a BMD loss at the hip (Figure 3). We did not find any difference between the AN subtypes for the evolution of BMD (data no shown). FM gain was a significant factor associated with BMD improvement at follow-up (8.0 ± 9.1 vs 3.0 ± 3.5 kg, p = 0.02, Table 5). We also observed trends for FFM gain (2.4 ± 2.9 vs −0.1 ± 2.9 kg, p = 0.08) and weight gain (7.7 ± 8.2 vs 3.2 ± 5.6 kg, p = 0.10) as factors associated with BMD improvement (Table 5).

TABLE 3

Table 3. Anthropometric data at follow-up (T1).

TABLE 4

Table 4. Changes in bone mineral density from T0 to T1.

FIGURE 3

Figure 3. Flow chart. At T0, 160 patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) were involved in the study. Low bone mineral density (osteoporosis or osteopenia) was observed in 86 of those 160 patients. Since 26 patients refused to participate and 18 patients were lost, the second visit (T1) involved 42 patients with AN.

TABLE 5

Table 5. Influence of body composition [fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM)] and weight on bone mineral density (BMD) changes.

Physical Activity

Of the 42 patients, 15 patients had a regular physical activity (11 patients AN-R and 4 patients AN-M). Patients exercising had higher FFM gain than inactive patients (+1.3 ± 3.3 vs −0.8 ± 3 kg, p = 0.06), whereas FM and body weight were not significantly different. Furthermore, physical activity did not appear as a predictive factor of BMD improvement.

Discussion

In this study, at the first visit, more than 50% of the population exhibited low BMD either osteopenia or osteoporosis. This result is in accordance with previous studies and confirm the major impact of AN on bone health (18, 19). Moreover, we found a positive correlation between hip BMD and duration of AN as reported in the previous cross-sectional studies (20–22). However, there is emerging evidence that loss of BMD is rapid, occurring relatively early in the disease, even in adolescents with a brief duration of illness. Legroux-Gérot et al. found that spine bone loss correlated negatively with durations of AN in a 1-year follow-up study (23), this finding could be explained by a very rapid process of bone loss at the onset of the disease. In our study, hip BMD was also correlated positively with BMI. This finding is comparable with those reported in the literature (21).

At 3 years follow-up, despite the increase in BMI, bone condition did not significantly change and we did not find any difference between the AN subtypes. Thus, weight recovery did not influence the reestablishment of concrete bone mineralization in our population. Many contradictory results are reported in the literature regarding the reestablishment of bone mineralization after recovery in AN. Some trials have found that weight recovery was related to BMD improvement (18, 24, 25), whereas other recent studies have reported that bone recovery was not influenced by BMI (26, 27). Potential mechanisms involved in the lack of bone recovery after weight restoration are not well understood. Physical hyperactivity has been associated with low bone mass in AN (28). Moreover, increased marrow adiposity, which correlates with low bone density, has been observed in AN (29).

Moreover, we attempted to determine whether or not associations existed between change in BMD at 3 years follow-up and body composition changes. We found a significant positive association between BMD improvement and FM. Indeed, in our population, increase in BMI was mainly related to an increase in FM as previously reported in AN (26). The pathophysiological mechanisms between weight, fat tissue, and bone tissue are increasingly better understood. Leptin is an anorexigenic adipokine mainly produced by fat tissue and has effects on bone. Central leptin is deleterious to the axial skeleton (30, 31) but peripheral leptin has bone anabolic effects with possible osteoclast inhibitory effects (32). AN is often associated with low leptinemia (33), probably an adaptive mechanism to increase appetite, and lower leptin levels are associated with lower FM and bone density measures (34). Furthermore, in a recent study, hypoleptinemia persisted despite the full recovery of FM in an animal model of anorexia (35). Moreover, recent findings are in accordance with our results showing that increasing FM reversed bone loss osteopenia (36).

Lower lean mass is also an important determinant of lower bone density and impaired bone structure in adults and adolescents with AN (37). Previously, Soyka et al. have shown that increases in lean mass following weight gain are strongly predictive of coincident increases in bone density in adolescents with AN (9). In our study, FFM gain was not a significant predictive factor of BMD improvement, even if a trend was observed (2.4 ± 2.9 vs −0.1 ± 2.9 kg, ns). Interestingly, patients exercising had higher FFM gain than inactive patients (+1.3 ± 3.3 vs −0.8 ± 3 kg, p = 0.06). A few studies have suggested that moderate exercise may be protective against osteoporosis in women with AN, whereas pathological hyperactivity may be harmful (38, 39). It is generally accepted that exercise help in maintaining BMD in postmenopausal women and increase BMD of the spine and hip in women with osteopenia and osteoporosis (40). Therefore, some authors have hypothesized that, through increasing lean body mass, physical activity may improve BMD during AN management to compensate in part for the hypogonadism (28). However, in our study, physical activity did not appear as a predictive factor of BMD improvement, maybe because of the small population. Thus, prospective and controlled studies are needed to better understand how adapted physical activity may influence BMD evolution during the treatment of AN and may be integrated in a multimodal preventive or curative treatment of low BMD.

Because of its retrospective nature, the main limit of this study is the lake of correlation with biological parameters such as leptinemia or 25-OH vitamin D levels. Moreover, we did not provide detail on either patient menstrual status or type and intensity of exercise. However, this trial has some strength: the long-term follow-up, the evaluation of bone, body composition, and impact of physical activity which have been poorly studied in AN.

In conclusion, our findings suggest that the reestablishment of normal bone values is not related to the increase in body weight, at least after 3 years. Duration of AN, FM, hormonal factors seem to play an important role in the pathophysiological mechanism of osteoporosis and osteopenia in AN. Further trials are needed to better understand this complex pathways in AN.

Ethics Statement

This project was approved by the “Local Ethics Committee for Non-Interventional studies” (CERNI, Comité d’Ethique local pour la Recherche Non Interventionnelle). This study complies with the International Declaration of Helsinki and we obtained a written consent from all the patients.

Author Contributions

NA, MC, and SG designed the study. NA, PJ, AR, PD, and SG included patients. MC and JC performed BMD and body composition acquisition. NA and SG performed statistical analysis. NA wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All the authors performed critical revision of the manuscript and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

We thank the staff of the Nutrition Unit, Rouen University Hospital, for their helpful assistance, NA was supported by the Conseil Régional de Haute Normandie and the French Health Care Ministry.

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