The hormonal response to intravenous 5-hydroxytryptophan in bulimia nervosa

Abstract

In recent years evidence has accumulated to implicate a disturbance in serotonin function in the eating disorder bulimia nervosa. This study employs a neuroendocrine technique to assess the effect of intravenous 5-hydroxytryptophan, the immediate precursor to serotonin, on peripheral hormones in bulimia nervosa subjects and controls. Blunted prolactin and growth hormone responses were observed among bulimia nervosa subjects; the possible pathophysiology and implications of the findings are discussed.