Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe eating disorder primarily affecting children and adolescents. Disorders of the gut-brain interaction (DGBIs) have gained recognition as significant symptoms in individuals with AN. However, limited studies have explored GI symptoms in pediatric populations with AN using age-specific diagnostic tools. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of DGBIs, their associated psychopathological aspects and their potential correlations with ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption among pediatric AN patients. The study included AN patients who were under the care of a specialized multidisciplinary team. We assessed DGBI-related symptoms using the Rome IV Pediatric Diagnostic Questionnaire on Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (R4PDQ) and conducted psychological evaluations. Dietary intake and UPF consumption were evaluated. Among 56 AN patients, we observed a lower prevalence of DGBIs (functional constipation: 61%; functional dyspepsia: 54%; irritable bowel syndrome: 25%) compared to the existing literature. The psychological assessments revealed high rates of depression (72%) and anxiety (70%). UPF consumption was inversely related to depression levels ( = 0.01) but positively correlated with functional constipation ( = 0.046). This study highlights the importance of using age-specific diagnostic tools and emphasizes the crucial role of a specialized multidisciplinary team in the treatment of AN.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10975836PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu16060817DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

upf consumption
12
rome pediatric
8
pediatric diagnostic
8
gut-brain interaction
8
ultra-processed food
8
anorexia nervosa
8
age-specific diagnostic
8
diagnostic tools
8
prevalence dgbis
8
specialized multidisciplinary
8

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!