Sex-hormone-binding globulin and protein-energy malnutrition indexes as indicators of nutritional status in women with anorexia nervosa.

Serum sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), transferrin, prealbumin, retinol-binding protein, and ceruloplasmin concentrations were evaluated in 12 women with anorexia nervosa before and after weight gain and in 12 healthy women with normal weight. The serum SHBG concentrations were higher in patients with anorexia nervosa before weight gain than in control subjects and they returned to the normal range after weight gain. The changes of SHBG concentrations were not associated with any change in plasma testosterone, estradiol, or free thyroxin concentrations. The body mass index in our patients after weight gain was lower than in control subjects. Prealbumin, retinol-binding protein, ceruloplasmin, and transferrin in anorectic patients before weight gain did not differ from those of the control subjects and increased after weight gain. The changes of serum SHBG concentrations in patients with anorexia nervosa during weight gain make SHBG determination a reliable index of nutritional status in this type of eating disorder.