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Review
. 2024 Dec 12:12:1415061.
doi: 10.3389/fped.2024.1415061. eCollection 2024.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in anorexia nervosa; an underestimated endocrine dysfunction among adolescents

Valeria Calcaterra #  1   2 , Vittoria Carlotta Magenes #  2 , Nadia Fratangeli  3 , Giulia Nigro  3 , Valentina Fabiano  2   4 , Leonardo Mendolicchio  3 , Gianvincenzo Zuccotti  2   4
Affiliations
Review

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in anorexia nervosa; an underestimated endocrine dysfunction among adolescents

Valeria Calcaterra et al. Front Pediatr. .

Abstract

In patients affected by anorexia nervosa (AN) different endocrine abnormalities have been described, but, among them, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) dysfunction, although associated to important side effects, is underestimated and has no therapeutical options. We present a narrative literature review to investigate the HPA axis in patients with AN, in order to highlight HPA dysfunction and its effects. We also described the crucial role of HPA monitoring, and to consider eventual therapeutic and preventive strategies in AN patients. The literature now available demonstrates that women and girls suffering from AN have higher measures of cortisol and lower levels of androgens as compared to controls. These endocrinological disturbances have deleterious effects on the subjects, both from the physical and from the psychological point of view. It's fundamental for physicians to consider these aspects when assessing AN patients. The mechanisms behind the adrenocortical dysfunctions in eating disorders patients remain an open question and there are no available treatments, thus research on this issue would be extremely useful and highly necessary, especially in the pediatric field.

Keywords: adolescents; anorexia nervosa; cortisol; endocrine dysfunction; hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal.

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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.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of paper selection and exclusion is presented graphically.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis (created by biorender®).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Hypothalamo-pituitary adrenal axis unbalances in AN: causes and consequences.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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