Nutritional and Endocrine-Metabolic Aberrations in Women with Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea 1

Abstract

The development of functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) in weight-stable, nonathletic women has long been thought to be psychogenic in origin. This study was designed to gain insight into the possibility that nutritional deficits and compensatory endocrine-metabolic adaptations contribute to the development and maintenance of FHA of the psychogenic type. Nutritional intake, insulin sensitivity, and 24-h dynamics of insulin/glucose, cortisol, leptin, somatotropic, and LH axes were simultaneously assessed in eight women with FHA not associated with exercise or weight loss and in eight age- and body mass index-matched regular cycling controls (NC). The percent fat body mass was lower and lean body mass was higher in FHA than in NC (P < 0.05). The FHA subjects scored higher (P < 0.05) on two Eating Disorder Inventory subscales and had a higher (P < 0.05) Beck depression rating than NC, although all were in the subclinical range. Although daily caloric intake did not differ, FHA consumed 50% less (P < 0.00...