Peptide YY3-36 concentration in acute- and long-term recovered anorexia nervosa

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Abstract

PURPOSE: The gut-brain axis could be a possible key factor in the pathophysiology of anorexia nervosa. The neuropeptide peptide YY3-36, secreted by endocrine L cells of the gastrointestinal tract, is a known regulator of appetite and food intake. The objective of this study was to investigate peptide YY3-36 plasma concentrations at different stages of anorexia nervosa in a combined cross-sectional and longitudinal design to differentiate between effects of acute undernutrition and more enduring characteristics.

METHODS: We measured fasting plasma peptide YY3-36 concentrations in young patients with acute anorexia nervosa (n = 47) and long-term recovered patients (n = 35) cross-sectionally in comparison to healthy control participants (n = 58), and longitudinally over the course of inpatient treatment. Physical activity was controlled as it may modulate peptide YY secretion.

RESULTS: There was no group difference in peptide YY3-36 concentration among young acutely underweight anorexia nervosa patients, long-term recovered anorexia nervosa patients, and healthy control participants. Longitudinally, there was no change in peptide YY3-36 concentration after short-term weight rehabilitation. For acute anorexia nervosa patients at admission to treatment, there was a negative correlation between peptide YY3-36 concentration and body mass index.

CONCLUSIONS: The current study provides additional evidence for a normal basal PYY3-36 concentration in AN. Future studies should study multiple appetite-regulating peptides and their complex interplay and also use research designs including a food challenge.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3791-3799
Number of pages9
JournalEuropean journal of nutrition
Volume59
Issue number8
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2020
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMedCentral PMC7669786
Scopus 85081751945
ORCID /0000-0003-2132-4445/work/142236329
ORCID /0000-0002-5413-0359/work/142248932
ORCID /0000-0001-8333-867X/work/142251381

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Anorexia Nervosa, Appetite, Body Mass Index, Cross-Sectional Studies, Humans, Peptide YY, Thinness