Thyroid function in bulimia nervosa

Abstract

Basal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid hormone levels were evaluated in 18 women with bulimia nervosa during a period of active bingeing and vomiting and again after 7 weeks of abstinence from these behaviors and compared to measures in 27 control women. In 10 of the patients and 11 of the controls, the TSH nocturnal surge was calculated from hourly TSH measurements obtained in the afternoon from 1500 to 1900h and in the night from 2300 to 0400h. During the bingeing phase of the illness patients had lower total triiodothyronine (T3) values than controls (p