Common Questions
What is the role of exogenous estrogen in treatment of anorexia nervosa-associated bone loss?
There are limited data on the use of estrogen in patients with osteoporosis secondary to anorexia nervosa; however, one study showed that when patients were stratified by weight, women who were less than 70 percent of their ideal body weight demonstrated a small increase in bone density, whereas patients with initial body weight greater than 70 percent of ideal weight demonstrated progressive bone loss. Until more data is accumulated, the decision about starting estrogen in patients with anorexia nervosa should be made on a case-by-case basis.
- Klibanski, A. et al. The effects of estrogen administration on trabecular bone loss in young women with anorexia nervosa. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 0000; 80: 898-904.