Use of nutritional supplements to increase the efficacy of fluoxetine in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • OBJECTIVE: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication does not appear to be effective in ill, malnourished anorexia nervosa (AN) patients. However, it may be effective in preventing relapse after weight restoration. The purpose of this study was to determine whether nutritional supplements could potentiate the effects of fluoxetine in underweight AN subjects. METHOD: Twenty-six subjects with AN participated in a trial of fluoxetine. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled manner, subjects received either nutritional supplements or a nutritional placebo. The nutritional supplement included tryptophan (the precursor of serotonin), vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids believed to influence serotonin pathway function. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in weight gain between subjects treated with fluoxetine plus nutritional supplements versus fluoxetine plus a nutritional placebo. Moreover, there were no significant differences between groups on mean changes in anxiety or obsessive and compulsive symptoms. DISCUSSION: The results of this study suggest that supplement strategies are not a substitute for adequate nutrition and are ineffective in increasing the efficacy of fluoxetine in underweight AN subjects.

publication date

  • January 1, 2004

Research

keywords

  • Anorexia Nervosa
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Fluoxetine
  • Nutrition Therapy
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 9144219626

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1002/eat.10235

PubMed ID

  • 14705152

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 35

issue

  • 1