Anorexia
From The Nutritional Health Bible by Linda Lazarides (1997). This free database is provided for interest only. Linda's later writings refer to more up-to-date research.
Some causative factors (anorexia)- Zinc deficiency.
Some causative factors (anorexia nervosa)
- Anorexia nervosa
- Peer influences
- Psychological (control) issues
- Zinc deficiency.
Zinc status was found to be low in approximately half of 24 patients with anorexia nervosa, probably due to low zinc intake, purging and vomiting. Since reduced food consumption is a major manifestation of zinc deficiency, this acquired deficiency could add to and prolong the anorexic behaviour. Humphries L et al: Zinc deficiency and eating disorders. J Clin Psychiatry 50(12):456-9, 1989.
Zinc deficiency is common in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa and may act as a sustaining factor for abnormal eating behaviour. McClain CJ et al: Zinc status before and after zinc supplementation of eating disorder patients. J Am Coll Nutr 11(6):694-700, 1992.
<Promising nutritional researchZinc levels were found to be very low in anorexia nervosa sufferers. Zinc
supplementation resulted in a decrease in depression and anxiety.
Katz RL et al: Zinc deficiency in anorexia nervosa. J Adolesc Health Care
8(5):400-6, 1987.
Food intake rose significantly in mildly zinc-deficient children supplemented with zinc for one year. Krebs NF et al: Increased food intake of young children receiving a zinc supplement. Am J Dis Child 138(3):270-3, 1984.
In a study using zinc supplementation on 20 women with anorexia nervosa, over 8-56 months follow-up no patients suffered any further weight loss and 17 increased their body weight by 15-24%. No patients developed bulimia. Safai-Kutti S: Oral zinc supplementation in anorexia nervosa. Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl 361:14-17, 1990.