Background & aims: Despite the high mortality rate in malnourished anorexia nervosa (AN) patients, very few trials have prospectively studied the efficacy of tube feeding.
Methods: This open prospective study was conducted in malnourished AN patients, who were randomized in tube feeding (n=41) or control (n=40) groups during a 2-month period. Thereafter, body weight, body mass gain, energy intake, eating behavior and relapse rates were compared during a 1-year follow-up, using paired Student t-test and ANOVA.
Results: At the end of the 2-months period, weight gain was 39% higher in the tube feeding group than in the control group (194+/-14 vs 126+/-19g/day; P<0.01). The fat-free mass gain was greater in the tube-feeding group: 109+/-14 vs 61+/-17g/day (P<0.01). Energy intake was higher in the tube feeding group than in the control group (P<0.05), as well as the decrease in bingeing episodes (P<0.01). Most patients thought that CEN improved their eating disorder. After discharge, the relapse-free period was longer in the CEN group than in the control one: 34.3+/-8.2 weeks vs 26.8+/-7.5 weeks (P<0.05).
Conclusion: CEN is helpful in malnourished AN patients for weight restoration, without hindrance on the eating behavior therapy nor inducing a more rapid relapse.