A retrospective analysis of biochemical and haematological parameters in patients with eating disorders

Abstract

Background: The objective of the study was to determine whether levels of biochemical and haematological parameters in patients with eating disorders (EDs) varied from the general population. Whilst dietary restrictions can lead to nutritional deficiencies, specific abnormalities may be relevant to the diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment of EDs. Methods: With ethics approval and informed consent, a retrospective chart audit was conducted of 113 patients with EDs at a general practice in Brisbane, Australia. This was analysed first as a total group (TG) and then in 4 ED subgroups: Anorexia nervosa (AN), Bulimia nervosa (BN), ED Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS), and AN/BN. Eighteen parameters were assessed at or near first presentation: cholesterol, folate, vitamin B12, magnesium, manganese, zinc, calcium, potassium, urate, sodium, albumin, phosphate, ferritin, vitamin D, white cell count, neutrophils, red cell count and platelets. Results were analysed using IBM SPSS 21 and Microsoft Excel 2013 by two-tailed, one-sample t-tests (TG and 4 subgroups) and chi-square tests (TG only) and compared to the population mean standards. Results for the TG and each subgroup individually were then compared with the known reference interval (RI). Results: For the total sample, t-tests showed significant differences for all parameters (p < 0.05) except cholesterol. Most parameters gave results below population levels, but folate, phosphate, albumin, calcium and vitamin B12 were above. More patients than expected were below the RI for most parameters in the TG and subgroups. Conclusions: At diagnosis, in patients with EDs, there are often significant differences in multiple haematological and biochemical parameters. Early identification of these abnormalities may provide additional avenues of ED treatment through supplementation and dietary guidance, and may be used to reinforce negative impacts on health caused by the ED to the patient, their family and their treatment team (general practitioner, dietitian and mental health professionals). Study data would support routine measurement of a full blood count and electrolytes, phosphate, magnesium, liver function tests, ferritin, vitamin B12, red cell folate, vitamin D, manganese and zinc for all patients at first presentation with an ED. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved)Brisbane City Doctors Medical Practice, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Release Date: 20180830. Publication Type: Journal (0100), Peer Reviewed Journal (0110). Format Covered: Electronic. Document Type: Journal Article. Language: EnglishMajor Descriptor: Diagnosis; Eating Disorders. Minor Descriptor: Etiology; Treatment. Classification: Eating Disorders (3260). Population: Human (10). Location: Australia. Age Group: Childhood (birth-12 yrs) (100); School Age (6-12 yrs) (180); Adolescence (13-17 yrs) (200); Adulthood (18 yrs & older) (300); Young Adulthood (18-29 yrs) (320); Thirties (30-39 yrs) (340); Middle Age (40-64 yrs) (360). Tests & Measures: Australian Aborigine and Torres Strait Islanders Health Survey. Methodology: Empirical Study; Longitudinal Study; Retrospective Study; Quantitative Study. References Available: Y. ArtID: 32. Issue Publication Date: Oct 2, 2017. Publication History: First Posted Date: Oct 2, 2017; Accepted Date: Jun 8, 2017; First Submitted Date: Dec 15, 2016. Copyright Statement: Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated. The Author(s). 2017. <br />