The Role of NPY in Anorexia Nervosa
Kaye et al. conducted a study in 1990 to demonstrate the role of NPY in anorexia nervosa. In this post mortem study, high levels of NPY were found in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with anorexia nervosa. Subsequently, high concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol in the plasma were also found in patients with anorexia nervosa. Another study conducted seven years later revealed low levels of leptin, the hormone that inhibits NPY release at relatively high levels, were found to correlate with the extremely low levels of adipocytes in these patients; hence, the anorexigenic nature of leptin. Furthermore, while the high levels of NPY increased food intake or hunger in patients with anorexia nervosa, the emotional discomfort associated with eating may explain the resistance to the orexigenic effects of NPY—suggesting a strong limbic system influence on food intake in eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
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