Worse bones if you have anorexia

2005/01/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza

Compared to healthy people, patients with eating disorders have a higher risk of bone diseases such as osteopenia or osteoporosis.

This is due to their nutritional deficiencies and hypogonadism. The University Clinic of Navarra has conducted a study to measure the bone mass of girls and young people with eating disorders. This work has been awarded the Amagoia Pediatrics Award.

Researchers have also tried to discover the factors that can be decisive in the bone formation process. The variants of some genes have been investigated. In fact, genetic markers can help see which patients are most likely to suffer from these bone deficiencies.

In addition, it should be noted that current treatments do not completely resolve this loss of bone mass, so from the beginning of the disease it is necessary to ensure that at least enough calcium and vitamin D are taken, two very important components for bone formation.