People with eating disorders are at a higher risk of autoimmune disorders, new research shows.
Autoimmune diseases are a result of an abnormal immune response to substances and tissues generally present in the body. Researchers at the University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Central Hospital and National Institute for Health and Welfare, Finland, found that eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia aggravate the risk of developing somatic illnesses like type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease.
For the study, researchers examined 2,342 people with eating disorders and 9,368 healthy matched population controls. Nearly 8.9 percent of eating disorder patients and 5.4 percent of healthy participants were diagnosed with autoimmune diseases.
According to researchers, type 1 diabetes explained an increase in endocrinological diseases, whereas gastroenterological diseases caused Crohn's disease.
The team stated that the higher prevalence of autoimmune diseases among eating disorder patients was not restricted to endocrinological and gastroenterological diseases; this group also suffered higher rates of autoimmune disorders..
The findings of the study raise concerns because autoimmune diseases can exacerbate the risk of depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.
"Our findings support the link between immune-mediated mechanisms and development of eating disorders. Future studies are needed to explore the risk of autoimmune diseases and immunological mechanisms in individuals with eating disorders and their family members," said Dr. Anu Raevuori of the University of Helsinki.
The findings of the study were published in the journal PLOS ONE.
