PD537 - LOW BONE MINERAL DENSITY (BMD) IN ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH ANOREXIA NERVOSA: A PILOT STUDY

PD537

LOW BONE MINERAL DENSITY (BMD) IN ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH ANOREXIA NERVOSA: A PILOT STUDY

L. Valzolgher^1,*, E. Gastaldo¹, L. Vedovato¹, M. Kob¹

¹Division of Clinical Nutrition, ASDAA, Bolzano, Italy

Rationale: Low bone mineral density (BMD) is a common medical complication associated with anorexia nervos. Factors contributing to Low bone mineral density (BMD) in Anorexia Nervosa are: amenorrhea (low estrogen state), low Body Mass Index (BMI), disease duration. Although treatment is well established in menopausal woman, current amangement in adolescents and young adults are still debated

Methods: Observational pilot study of BMD in a small sample of 8 female patients aged 17-26 years undergoing inpatient treatment for AN. BMD was assesed by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the lumbar spine. Data regarding duration of AN, lowest BMI achieved and amenorrhea were also collected.

Results: Low BMD was found in 50% of the patients; in particular 2 patients > 18 years showed T-score between -1 to -2.5 SD and 2 patients < 18 years had Z-score < -2 S. All patients with reduced BMD had amenorrhea (at least 20 months), the lowest BMI achieved < 15 and duration of disease of al least 2 years.

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Conclusion: Although our small sample does not allow any inferential statistics, in our small sample of adolescents and young adults with AN the prevalence of low BMD was 50% of patients. Further studies are needed to evaluate increased fracture risk in adolescents and young adults with AN and and to find long-term therapeutic strategies for low bone mass, that are currently lacking.

References: Workman C, Blalock DV, Mehler PS. Bone density status in a large population of patients with anorexia nervosa. Bone. 2020 Feb;131:115161. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2019.115161. Epub 2019 Nov 23. PMID: 31765843. Wszolek M, Ziora-Jakutowicz K, Gorczyca P, Rojewska K, Ziora K. Assessment of the frequency of hormonal disorders of the gonads and bone mineral density among women treated for anorexia nervosa in adolescence. Pediatr Endocrinol Diabetes Metab. 2022;28(1):16-22. doi: 10.5114/pedm.2022.112866. PMID: 35112559; PMCID: PMC10226362.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared