Effect of naloxone on luteinizing hormone secretion in eating disorders: A pilot study

Previous studies have suggested that increased activity in endogenous opiate systems can lead to suppression of LH secretion in certain normal and patho- logical states. Increased food intake has also been linked to increased en- dogenous opiate activity. We hypothesized that in some women with the syndrome of bulimia there is an increase in endogenous opiate system activ- ity which contributes both to a suppression of LH secretion and to an in- creased drive to eat. We tested the endocrine aspect of this hypothesis by determining the effect of naloxone on LH secretion in nine amenorrheic or oligomenorrheic women with bulimia. Naloxone failed to increase LH in five underweight women with bulimia and anorexia nervosa. There was a slight increase in LH secretion during naloxone infusion in two of four women of normal weight with bulimia.