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Comparative Study
. 1997 Jan;21(1):95-8.
doi: 10.1002/(sici)1098-108x(199701)21:1<95::aid-eat12>3.0.co;2-n.

Serum electrolytes as markers of vomiting in bulimia nervosa

S J Crow  1 , J J Salisbury, R D Crosby, J E Mitchell
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Serum electrolytes as markers of vomiting in bulimia nervosa

S J Crow et al. Int J Eat Disord. 1997 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: Patients with bulimia nervosa often have serum electrolyte abnormalities that result from vomiting and/or laxative or diuretic use. Thus, serum electrolytes could serve as an objective marker of such behaviors.

Method: This study is a retrospective examination of serum electrolyte levels and vomiting behavior in 138 bulimic women, and of serum electrolyte levels in 70 control women.

Results: Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that only potassium values distinguished bulimic subjects from controls. Potassium levels below the lower limit of normal (3.7 mg/l) occurred only in the bulimic group.

Discussion: Abnormally low values for potassium are a specific, but not sensitive, predictor of recent vomiting episodes.

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