Starvation response

As hunger metabolic conversion of metabolism is called when malnutrition, such as during fasting ( with the extreme form of zero - diet) or anorexia.

Physiology

Due to the lack of food or nutrient deficiency, the metabolic rate in order to catabolism in the course of several days. The basal metabolic rate is reduced and the metabolic slowing. The body needs to gain the necessary energy to maintain vital body functions from its energy stores in food deprivation. Succession (eg glycogen), fats (eg subcutaneous adipose tissue ) and ultimately proteins (eg muscle) attacked to cover the energy demand energy reserves in the form of carbohydrates. The blood sugar level drops to about 80 mg / dl, the glucagon levels to rise, the insulin level drops.

With increasing duration of the starvation step a plurality of changes in the metabolism. The fat metabolism is converted to the breakdown of fatty acids by beta-oxidation and the synthesis of ketone bodies via ketogenesis, which can manifest itself in a ketosis and because of exhaled acetone in a diet halitosis. In the serum rise through protein degradation to ammonia and uric acid values ​​. From the increased cell loss in the context of hunger metabolism deposition of the released nucleic acids can occur in joints and thus caused a gout. Over time, the lack of food or nutrient deficiency leads to deficiency diseases and eventually to death.

Degradation of lipids

Grease tube - mainly the triglycerides - is mined only from the first week after fast start. However, the opinion is expressed that the fat loss is to begin after the glycogen depletion and runs parallel to protein degradation. The fat breakdown (lipolysis ) leads to the formation of ketone bodies acetoacetate and betahydroxybutyric acid.