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Starvation is a severe deficiency in caloric energy intake, below the level needed to maintain an organism's life. It is the most extreme form of malnutrition.In humans, prolonged starvation can cause permanent organ damage [1] and eventually, death.
The ultimate cause of death is, in general, cardiac arrhythmia or cardiac arrest brought on by tissue degradation and electrolyte imbalances. In the very obese, it has been shown that proteins can be depleted first. Accordingly, death from starvation is predicted to occur before fat reserves are used up. [7]
Maternal malnutrition can also factor into the poor health or death of a baby. Over 800,000 neonatal deaths have occurred because of deficient growth of the fetus in the mother's womb. [101] Deriving too much of one's diet from a single source, such as eating almost exclusively potato, maize or rice, can cause malnutrition.
After this time, the damage to muscles and organs can be permanent and can also eventually cause death, if left untreated. Catabolysis is the last metabolic resort for the body to keep itself — particularly the nervous system—functional. Protein stores, especially in muscle tissue, provide the amino acids needed for the process.
The syndrome can occur at the beginning of treatment for eating disorders when patients have an increase in calorie intake and can be fatal. It can also occur when someone does not eat for several days at a time usually beginning after 4–5 days with no food. [5] It can also occur after the onset of a severe illness or major surgery. The ...
An autopsy found that his stomach was completely empty when he passed away, and his official cause of death was ruled dehydration and malnutrition.
Accumulation of protein metabolic waste products in the body can cause diseases and serious complications such as gout, uremia, acute renal failure, seizure, encephalopathy, and death. These products of protein metabolism, including urea, uric acid, ammonia, and creatinine, are compounds that the human body must eliminate in order for the body ...
Emaciation can be caused by undernutrition, malaria and cholera, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases with prolonged fever, parasitic infections, many forms of cancer and their treatments, lead poisoning, and eating disorders like anorexia nervosa.