The Nutrition Research Group conducts research on various aspects of eating disorders, with a particular focus on both physiological and psychological aspects of severe anorexia nervosa. Operating within a multidisciplinary clinical framework, the group collaborates closely with psychiatric services in the Region of Southern Denmark. Notably, the center hosts the only specialized somatic section in Denmark dedicated to treating severe and life-threatening stages of anorexia nervosa and a mobile somatic home service, providing critical care to patients in their homes.
Ongoing projects
EXCENTRICC-AN
Centre for Clinical Excellence: Improved Diagnostics and Use of Corticosteroids in Clinical Practice Substudy: Associations between cortisol and depression, anxiety, disease severity, and hippocampal and insula volumes in anorexia nervosa.
Status: Recruitment is ongoing.
Clinical trial and project information:
TEAN
Thromboembolism in Anorexia Nervosa. A registry-based study of a national cohort combined with a case-control study of hemostatic balance and its associations with nutritional status, insulin, and cortisol.
Clinical trial and project information:
The microbiome in anorexia nervosa
Two projects have been completed in collaboration with two different research groups, and the results have been published in Nature Microbiology, Nature Metabolism, and Nature Communications.
Project 1: Sequencing study and fecal microbiota transplantation from humans to mouse models.
Project 2: Human feasibility study.
Project 3: Randomized controlled trial in preparation. Collaborators: Kenneth Barfod and Andreas Munk Petersen, UCPH FOOD.
RetroME
Re-nutrition of patients with severe anorexia nervosa in the Nutrition Unit (ME), OUH, Centre for Eating Disorders: a retrospective 5-year assessment. This project is based on medical record data and evaluates treatment during hospitalization in a specialized nutrition unit. Results have so far been published on mortality, hypoalbuminemia, and hypothermia in this patient group. Data analysis is still ongoing.
Status 2025
Work has progressed on all of the above projects. In addition, we are collaborating with other research groups on several related studies, including: Psilocybin treatment, in collaboration with Dr Oliver Hovman and specialist Dr Sidsel Astrup, Psychiatry, Region Zealand. Use of oral contraceptives in anorexia nervosa anticoagulant treatment in anorexia nervosa. Binge eating disorder in type 2 diabetes, in collaboration with
Associate Professor Jakob Linnet, Chief Physician Mikael Røder, and psychologist/PhD student Pernille Nybo. An anthropological study of patients recovered from anorexia nervosa, in collaboration with Tine Gammeltoft; PhD student Ida Vandsøe Madsen, UCPH Anthropology. During the year, we presented results at several international congresses, including meetings in London and San Antonio, Texas.
Visions for 2026
Our goal is to continue contributing new knowledge and clinical development within the treatment of eating disorders, with a particular focus on anorexia nervosa. The TEAN project is expected to be completed, including the PhD defence of Jeanie Egedal, which will contribute important new knowledge on thromboembolism in anorexia nervosa. We also plan to present results from three of our projects at the International Conference on Eating Disorders in The Hague, the Netherlands.