1985 Volume 25 Issue 6 Pages 499-504
The authors examined the glucose metabolism and the endocrinological function of the pancreas in bulimic patients (bulimia) of normal weight. The patients received 50g oral glucose tolerance tests (O-GTT) and eight of 10 patients received insulin tolerance tests (ITT) before treatment. The plasma glucose, insulin and pancreatic glucagon levels were investigated in controls and bulimic patients.Basal levels of plasma insulin and glucagon in bulimia were lower than those in controls. Five of 10 patients (50%) showed the abnormalities of glucose tolerance. Insulin responce levels and insulinogenic index at 30 min during 50g O-GTT were significantly lower in bulimic patients than those in controls. After glucose loading, the plasma glucagon levels in patients tended to be slightly elevated without suppression and ΔIRG levels at 60,90,120 and 180 min were significantly higher among bulimic patients than among controls.The plasma glucose concentrations during ITT in bulimic patients were decreased at 30 min as well as in controls, but were significantly lower than in controls at 120min and the recovery from hypoglycemia was delayed. After insulin infusion, the plasma glucagon concentrations and Maximal ΔIRG (peak value-basal value) were significantly lower than in controls.According to our data, 1) It is suggested that impaired glucose tolerance occurs frequently in patients with bulimia and is caused by the abnormalities of insulin and glucagon secretion.2) These findings suggest that the similar abnormalities identified previously in anorexia nervosa cannot be explained solely as a secondary result of low weight and these abnormalities in eating disorders may be associated with the abnormal eating behaviors.
