Abstract
Introduction. Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa have severe repercussions for health,
affecting the endocrine, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems. Few studies have evaluated the advanced lipoprotein profile (ALP) in patients with anorexia nervosa, which could provide a better characterization of cardiovascular risk.
Methods. This longitudinal observational study includes adolescents aged 10 to 17, divided into groups with morbid obesity, normal weight, and anorexia nervosa. Demographic data, ALP blood samples and echocardiograms were analysed. Statistical analyses were conducted using the ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis and Bonferroni tests.
Preliminary results. Thirteen adolescents with anorexia nervosa, 41 obese and 25 normal-weight adolescents were included. The patients with anorexia nervosa presented lower left ventricular mass without affecting the ejection fraction. In the conventional lipid profile, they showed reduced cholesterol and triglycerides, and an increase in HDL. The ALP revealed reduced small particles of VLDL, LDL and HDL, and an increase in medium- sized HDL particles.
Conclusión. Adolescents with anorexia nervosa do not present an advanced atherogenic lipid profile according to the preliminary results, but a larger sample size and further research are required in order to obtain firmer conclusions.
Key Words: Advanced lipid profile, adolescence, anorexia nervosa, cardiovascular risk.
