Table 1.
Therapies that have been investigated to treat the low bone mass in anorexia nervosa and their effect on bone mineral density (BMD)
| Therapy | Change in BMD | Duration of treatment | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral contraceptives | No change compared to placebo except in women less than 70% ideal body weight |
Mean of 1-1.5 years | [48, 29] |
| Physiologic estrogen replacement | 2.6% increase in spine BMD | 1.5 years | [49] |
| IGF-I + oral contraceptives | 1.8% increase in spine BMD | 9 months | [29] |
| Testosterone | No change compared to placebo | 1 year | [52] |
| DHEA | No change compared to placebo | 1 year | [55] |
| DHEA + oral contraceptives | Maintenance of BMD as compared to loss of BMD in placebo group |
1.5 years | [55] |
| Bisphosphonates | 2% increase in hip BMD 3-4% increase in spine BMD |
1 year | [52] |