Effects of Anorexia Nervosa on Peak Bone Mass

Summary

Teenage girls with anorexia nervosa (AN) are at risk for low bone density and low rates of bone accrual, raising concerns regarding acquisition of peak bone mass, an important determinant of future bone health and fracture risk. Important factors contributing to low bone density in AN include low levels of estrogen and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). While estrogen is important for preventing bone loss, IGF-1 is important for optimizing bone formation. We have shown in a previous study that replacement of estrogen is effective in increasing bone density in teenage girls with AN; however, this increase in bone density remains lower than that seen in normal-weight controls over the same duration, and residual deficits persist. Importantly, the impact of administering replacement doses of IGF-1 with estrogen replacement has not been studied in teenagers with AN.

This study will examine the impact of administering recombinant human (rh) insulin like growth factor-1 (rhIGF-1) with estrogen (to mimic pubertal levels of these hormones) versus administration of estrogen alone on bone metabolism in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa (AN).

One aim of this proposal is to investigate whether co-administration of insulin like growth factor-1 (rhIGF-1) with physiologic estradiol replacement to adolescent girls with AN will increase BMD (bone mineral density) more than estrogen monotherapy, and whether bone mass will approach that seen in healthy adolescent girls. An additional aim is to determine whether co-administration of rhIGF-1 with estradiol to mimic the normal pubertal milieu stimulates bone formation through an IGF-1 mediated anabolic effect, increases bone density to a greater extent than estrogen monotherapy, and improves bone mass accrual to approach that in healthy controls. The impact of rhIGF-1 +estradiol versus estradiol alone on bone microarchitecture will also be assessed.

Conditions

• Anorexia Nervosa

Interventions

DRUG

RhIGF-1 with transdermal 17-beta estradiol

RhIGF-1 will be started at a dose of 30mcg/k/dose twice daily, and will be titrated up or down in 25% dose increments to maintain IGF-1 levels in the upper half of the normal range. Estradiol will be delivered transdermally using a 100 mcg patch (Vivelle Dot) changed twice weekly. Subjects will receive cyclic micronized progesterone (Prometrium) 100 mg daily for the first 10 days of each month. All subjects will receive supplemental calcium and vitamin D.

DRUG

Placebo and transdermal 17-beta estradiol

Placebo injections will be administered twice daily. Estradiol will be delivered transdermally using a patch (100 mcg) changed twice weekly. Subjects will receive cyclic micronized progesterone (Prometrium) 100 mg daily for the first 10 days of each month. All subjects will receive supplemental calcium and vitamin D.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Massachusetts General Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Madhusmita Misra, MD, MPH · Massachusetts General Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

14 Years

Max Age

22 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2011-02-28

Primary Completion

2019-03-31

Completion

2020-03-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations