Biomarkers of Bone Health in Anorexia Nervosa
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Identification of Bone Health Markers in Anorexia Nervosa
IRAS ID
259924
Contact name
Ulrike Schmidt
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Kings College London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
In Anorexia Nervosa (AN), the risk for osteoporosis is usually assessed via DXA (Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry) scanning, however, biochemical assays can detect earlier changes in bone turnover, and predict low Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and fracture occurrence. As the mechanisms influencing changes in bone biomarkers in AN remain unknown, this longitudinal study has the potential investigate changes in body composition, sex hormones in first episode AN verse SE-AN as predictors for changes in bone turnover at both a baseline assessment and a 1-year follow-up assessment. We will recruit 20 people with first-episode AN (FE-AN) and 20 with severe and enduring AN (SE-AN) to understand an individual’s risk for developing osteoporosis at the earliest stage of an ED and also specific risk factors for the decline in bone health over time. his study will be conducted in SLaM and all baseline and follow-up assessments will be completed within a 2-year period. We propose to conduct a longitudinal study recruiting emerging adults with both early stage, FE-AN and SE-AN and an age-matched group of healthy young adults and follow these individuals for 1 year. Participants will give blood samples and complete questionnaires in SLaM and KCL at two time-points in the study and be reimbursed with £20 at each study visit (baseline and 1-year follow-up).
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/0211
Date of REC Opinion
6 May 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion