Table 1.
Clinical characteristics and findings of serum amino acids (one-way ANOVA)
| AN (n = 27) | ANRec (n = 18) | HC (n = 28) | F | df | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years | 27.7 ± 10.6 | 32.2 ± 11.1 | 26.9 ± 5.8 | 2.0 | 2, 70 | 0.14 |
| Education, years | 16.9 ± 3.2 | 17.0 ± 2.8 | 18.1 ± 2.1 | 1.5 | 2, 66 | 0.23 |
| Duration, years | 10.0 ± 10.6 | 6.6 ± 6.2 | NA | 13.7 | 2, 69 | 0.00 |
| Age of onset, years | 17.0 ± 4.4 | 18.4 ± 6.4 | NA | 152.7 | 2, 69 | 0.00 |
| Current BMI, kg/m2 | 15.4 ± 1.6a**b** | 19.8 ± 1.1b**c** | 22.3 ± 2.5 | 85.6 | 2, 68 | 0.00 |
| Lowest BMI, kg/m2 | 13.1 ± 1.6a** | 14.2 ± 2.0c** | 21.0 ± 2.4 | 111.2 | 2, 65 | 0.00 |
| EDEQ R | 4.3 ± 3.7a**b** | 0.8 ± 0.9b** | 0.6 ± 1.0 | 20.0 | 2, 68 | 0.00 |
| EDEQ E | 3.3 ± 1.5a**b** | 0.4 ± 0.4b** | 0.2 ± 0.2 | 86.9 | 2, 68 | 0.00 |
| EDEQ W | 4.1 ± 1.7a**b** | 1.0 ± 0.9b** | 0.5 ± 0.6 | 69.8 | 2, 68 | 0.00 |
| EDEQ S | 4.6 ± 1.6a**b** | 1.5 ± 0.9b** | 0.9 ± 0.7 | 80.2 | 2, 68 | 0.00 |
| EDEQ G | 3.9 ± 1.7a**b** | 1.0 ± 0.8b** | 0.5 ± 0.5 | 65.7 | 2, 67 | 0.00 |
| MOCI | 10.1 ± 6.0a** | 8.7 ± 4.2c** | 3.7 ± 2.8 | 14.6 | 2, 68 | 0.00 |
| HADS anxiety | 14.0 ± 4.4a**b** | 8.7 ± 2.8b**c** | 4.4 ± 3.3 | 45.9 | 2, 66 | 0.00 |
| HADS depression | 9.3 ± 5.5a**b** | 3.4 ± 2.4b** | 1.5 ± 2.6 | 28.7 | 2, 66 | 0.00 |
| Serum Glu, μM | 64.7 ± 32.3 | 45.0 ± 29.6 | 54.7 ± 23.1 | 2.7 | 2, 70 | 0.08 |
| Serum Gln, μM | 1,310.2 ± 265.6a** | 1,159.0 ± 236.3 | 1,102.9 ± 152.7 | 6.3 | 2, 70 | 0.00 |
| Serum glycine, M | 294.8 ± 78.2 | 280.9 ± 82.9 | 255.1 ± 58.3 | 2.1 | 2, 70 | 0.13 |
| Ratio of Glu/Gln | 0.064 ± 0.065 | 0.042 ± 0.034 | 0.052 ± 0.025 | 1.3 | 2, 70 | 0.28 |
| Serum d-serine, μM | 2.2 ± 0.8 | 2.2 ± 0.8 | 1.9 ± 0.5 | 1.6 | 2, 70 | 0.21 |
| Serum l-serine, μM | 135.6 ± 53.7 | 158.4 ± 72.7 | 117.7 ± 60.9 | 2.4 | 2, 70 | 0.10 |
Values shown are mean ± SD; *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01.
aComparisons between AN and HC; bcomparisons between AN and ANRec; ccomparisons between ANRec and HC.
AN = anorexia nervosa; ANOVA = analysis of variance; ANRec = recovered from anorexia nervosa; BMI = body mass index; df = degrees of freedom; EDEQ R = Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Restraint Subscale; EDEQ E = Eating Concern Subscale; EDEQ W = Weight Concern Subscale; EDEQ S = Shape Concern Subscale; EDEQ G = Global Scale; Glu = Glutamate; Gln = Glutamine; HADS = Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HC = healthy controls; MOCI = Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory.