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Plasma Melatonin Levels in Anorexia Nervosa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Josephine Arendt ,
S. Bhanji ,
Christine Franey  and
D. Mattingly
Josephine Arendt
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 5XH
S. Bhanji*
Affiliation:
University of Exeter Postgraduate Medical School, Barrack Road, Exeter, Devon EX2 5DW
Christine Franey
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, University of Surrey
D. Mattingly
Affiliation:
University of Exeter Postgrduate Medical School, Barrack Road, Exeter
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

Plasma melatonin levels were measured at three-hourly intervals over 24 hours in 11 women with untreated anorexia nervosa, and in nine healthy women of normal weight. The circadian rhythm was unaltered but the nocturnal secretion of melatonin was significantly greater in anorectics. It is possible that this was related to nocturnal hypoglycaemia.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 161 , Issue 3 , September 1992 , pp. 361 - 364
Copyright
Copyright © 1992 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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