Hypercarotenemia in Anorexia Nervosa

Abstract

Twelve patients with anorexia nervosa and weight loss ranging from 25% to 44% of total body weight were studied with respect to aberrations in serum carotene levels. Hypercarotenemia was found in nine of the 12. Hypercarotenemia apparently has not been previously described in other forms of human starvation. Other conditions which may lead to disturbances in lipid metabolism and which have been associated with hypercarotenemia were ruled out. An abnormality in lipid metabolism in anorexia nervosa is suggested by these findings.