Inhibiting Bone Loss in Anorexia Nervosa: Another Possible Benefit of Oral Contraceptives

Hypogonadotropic amenorrhea and bone demineralization are common among malnourished women, including those with anorexia nervosa (AN). To assess whether oral contraceptives (OC) can protect women with AN from bone loss, French researchers conducted a case-control study involving 305 young women with AN (84 using estrogen-containing OC and 15 using progestin-only OC) and 121 normal-weight women.

Women with AN had lower bone mineral density (BMD) than normal-weight women, regardless of OC use. However, among women with AN, OC users had higher BMD than those who were not using OC. Further, BMD was more likely to be preserved with longer OC use and shorter delay in starting OC after onset of AN.