Background & aims: To assess prevalence of bone mineral density (BMD) reduction and relationship between bone mineral status and anthropometric assessment, nutritional intake and physical activity in adolescents with early anorexia nervosa (AN).
Methods: Fifty-seven consecutive AN patients and 57 healthy controls underwent anthropometric status, bone density, body composition and physical activity evaluations. In AN patients clinical features and nutritional intake were also assessed.
Results: Thirty-five patients with AN (62%) and 44 healthy subjects (77%) (pNS) showed normal BMD. Mean value of BMD Z-score was -0.6+/-0.9 in AN patients and -0.2+/-1.4 in controls (pNS). Weight at diagnosis and lean mass resulted the main predictor of bone loss but also height, best weight before diagnosis and BMI resulted correlated with bone mineral status in AN patients. Additionally, AN patients maintained good levels of protein intake and sport activity
Conclusions: Early diagnosis may prevent bone loss in AN patients. Protein intake and moderate physical activity seem to be useful to maintain an adequate bone mineral status.