Enteral nutrition in anorexia nervosa.

Biochemical and anthropometric data were collected in 9 subjects with anorexia nervosa before and after enteral nutrition by the nasogastric route. All subjects but one accepted the treatment which was stopped as soon as an adequate spontaneous food intake was resumed. Enteral nutrition caused a significant increase of mid-arm muscle circumference and of tricipital skinfold. Body weight gain was remarkable, averaging a rate of 8.22 kg/month. This value was not different from the levels attained by anorectic subjects put on total parenteral nutrition. Furthermore, a significant rise of some biochemical indexes, namely prealbumin and total iron binding capacity, was achieved. The most impressive drawbacks of enteral nutrition were occasional hypophosphatemia and moderate rise of serum aspartate and alanine aminotransferases. Both of these abnormalities were transient and apparently not associated with clinical disturbances.