No effects of acute tryptophan depletion on anxiety or mood in weight-recovered female patients with anorexia nervosa

Previous studies have suggested that individuals recovered from anorexia nervosa (AN) are characterized by increased serotonergic (5-HT) activity that might be related to elevated levels of anxiety. Assuming these traits to be also present in individuals at risk for AN, it was further hypothesized that restricting food intake might be a means to temporarily alleviate dysphoric affective states by reducing central nervous availability of tryptophan (TRP), the sole precursor of 5-HT.

Citation:
Weinert T, Bernardoni F, King J, …….. Zepf F, Roessner V, Ehrlich S. No effects of acute tryptophan depletion on anxiety or mood in weight-recovered female patients with anorexia nervosa. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2022.

Keywords:
Anorexia nervosa; Anxiety; Eating disorders; Serotonin; Tryptophan

Abstract:
Previous studies have suggested that individuals recovered from anorexia nervosa (AN) are characterized by increased serotonergic (5-HT) activity that might be related to elevated levels of anxiety. Assuming these traits to be also present in individuals at risk for AN, it was further hypothesized that restricting food intake might be a means to temporarily alleviate dysphoric affective states by reducing central nervous availability of tryptophan (TRP), the sole precursor of 5-HT.