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Dieting changes serotonergic function in women, not men: implications for the aetiology of anorexia nervosa?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

G. M. Goodwin ,
C. G. Fairburn  and
P. J. Cowen
G. M. Goodwin
Affiliation:
MRC Clinical Pharmacology Unit and University, Department of Psychiatry, Research Unit, Littlemore Hospital, Oxford
C. G. Fairburn
Affiliation:
MRC Clinical Pharmacology Unit and University, Department of Psychiatry, Research Unit, Littlemore Hospital, Oxford
P. J. Cowen*
Affiliation:
MRC Clinical Pharmacology Unit and University, Department of Psychiatry, Research Unit, Littlemore Hospital, Oxford
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr P. J. Cowen, MRC Clinical Pharmacology Unit and UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Research Unit, Littlemore Hospital, Oxford 0X4 4XN.
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Synopsis

The increase in plasma prolactin which follows intravenous administration of L–tryptopha (LTP) was used to assess changes in brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) function in normal male and female subjects, following a three week period of dieting. In women, but not men, there was a marked increase in the prolactin response to LTP, suggesting that dieting had caused alterations in brain 5-HT-mediated responses. In contrast, dieting did not alter the prolactinresponse to thyrotropin releasing hormone in either men or women, indicating that the changes in response to LTP could not be attributed to an increase in pituitary reserve of prolactin. These findings suggest that dieting alters brain 5–HT function in women but not in men. Biological factors as well as greater psychosocial pressures to diet may contribute to the high prevalence of eating disorders amongst women.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 17 , Issue 4 , November 1987 , pp. 839 - 842
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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