Zinc deficiency can cause symptoms that overlap with anorexia nervosa, including reduced appetite, weight loss, changes in taste and smell, low energy, anxiety and depression. A Psychology Today article argues that identifying and correcting a deficiency may help some patients, while noting that the overlap does not prove zinc deficiency causes anorexia.
The article says studies have found inadequate zinc status in a substantial proportion of people with anorexia, with estimates varying by study and measurement method. Experiments in animals fed zinc-deficient diets have also reported reduced food intake, weight loss, slowed growth and less social activity.
Zinc contributes to hundreds of biological processes, including the regulation of enzymes, appetite and signaling systems involved in mood. The article describes a possible cycle in which restrictive eating lowers zinc levels, and low zinc further reduces appetite, making it harder to eat enough.
It also cites research spanning several decades that suggests supplementation may support recovery. In one clinical trial, 35 hospitalized women with anorexia were randomly assigned to receive either 100 milligrams of zinc daily or a placebo. Those given zinc increased their body mass index twice as quickly as those in the placebo group. The study’s researchers said zinc supplementation should be considered in the treatment of anorexia nervosa.
Assessing zinc status can be difficult, the article notes: a blood result within the reference range does not necessarily rule out deficiency. Test results should therefore be considered alongside a person’s symptoms and circumstances.
The author recommends that any supplementation plan be tailored to the patient and supervised by a healthcare professional with relevant expertise. The article presents zinc as a potential part of nutritional care, not as a standalone treatment for anorexia nervosa.
Sources: Psychology Today.