American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 27, 362-367, Copyright © 1974 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

The hypercarotenemia in anorexia nervosa: a comparison of vitamin A and carotene levels in various forms of menstrual dysfunction and cachexia

¹ From the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medicine, UCLA Center for the Health Sciences, 10833 LeConte Ave., Los Angeles, California 90024

Vitamin A and -carotene levels were examined in 76 patients with disturbed menstrual function, gonadotropic suppression, and cachexia due to organic causes and compared with those found in 10 control subjects and 8 patients with anorexia nervosa. Statistically significant elevations of the mean serum -carotene (P<0.00l), retinyl ester (P<0.00l), retinol (P<0.0l), and retinoic acid (P<0.02) levels were found in patients with anorexia nervosa but not in any of the other groups. Cachexia was associated with significant decreases in the mean serum -carotene and retinyl ester levels and pregnancy with a decrease in the retinol levels. These findings suggest that the hypercarotenemia in anorexia nervosa may be due either to increased carotene and vitamin A intake or an acquired defect in the utilization or metabolism of vitamin A.