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How does zinc supplementation benefit anorexia nervosa?

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background: A randomized controlled trial of zinc supplementation in anorexia nervosa (AN) reported a two-fold increase of the rate of increase of body mass index (BMI) in the zinc group. Zinc is inexpensive, readily available and free of significant side effects. However, oral zinc supplementation is infrequently prescribed as an adjunctive treatment for AN. Understanding the mechanism of action of zinc may increase its use. Hypothesis: Low zinc intake, which is very common in AN, adversely affects neurotransmitters in various parts of the brain, including gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) and the amygdala, which are abnormal in AN. Zinc supplementation corrects these abnormalities, resulting in clinical benefit in AN. Conclusions: Oral administration of 14 mg of elemental zinc daily for 2 months in all patients with AN should be routine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eating Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, 1081 Burrard Street, V6Z 1Y6, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    C. Laird Birmingham & S. Gritzner

  2. Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    C. Laird Birmingham

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  1. C. Laird Birmingham
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  2. S. Gritzner
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Correspondence to C. Laird Birmingham.

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Birmingham, C.L., Gritzner, S. How does zinc supplementation benefit anorexia nervosa?. Eat Weight Disord 11, e109–e111 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327573

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