Endogenous glucose production and lipolysis in anorexia nervosa--a study using stable isotope-labelled compounds.

Unlabelled: Glucose production and lipolysis were investigated in teenage girls with anorexia nervosa using glucose and glycerol labelled with stable isotopes. The production of energy substrates were also maintained in the very underweight patients who showed higher relative rates of substrate mobilization compared to those who had gained some weight.
Conclusion: The investigation shows that glucose production, necessary to provide fuel for the central nervous system, is also maintained in starving patients with anorexia nervosa.