Amylophagia is a condition involving the compulsive

Compulsive behavior

Compulsive behavior is behavior which a person does compulsively—in other words, not because they want to behave that way, but because they feel they have to do so....

 consumption of excessive amounts of purified starch

Starch

Starch or amylum is a carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose units joined together by glycosidic bonds. This polysaccharide is produced by all green plants as an energy store...

. It is a form of pica

Pica (disorder)

Pica is characterized by an appetite for substances largely non-nutritive . For these actions to be considered pica, they must persist for more than one month at an age where eating such objects is considered developmentally inappropriate...

 and is often observed in pregnant

Pregnancy

Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...

 women. Amylophagia is distinct from a traditional diet containing a great deal of starchy staples such as potato

Potato

The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...

es, rice

Rice

Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...

 etc. In this condition patients feel a compulsion to consume refined starch such as cornstarch

Cornstarch

Corn starch, cornstarch, cornflour or maize starch is the starch of the corn grain obtained from the endosperm of the corn kernel.-History:...

 and continue to eat it for at least one month.

Causes

Amylophagia arises from a combination of biochemical, haematological, psychological, psychopathological and cultural factors. Many say that they are physiologically compelled to eat starch, and starchy things, because enjoy the taste, texture or smell while others say that it helps relieve stress and makes them feel calmer. It has also been said that it may be the result of a nutritional deficiency. Although the cause of Amylophagia is still unknown a number of these factors may contribute to its development.

Commonly Affected

Those who are most commonly affected include pregnant woman, developmental disabilities, young children, people with poor nutrition status and certain cultural backgrounds.

Health Risks

The health risks associated with Amylophagia include hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia or Hyperglycæmia, or high blood sugar, is a condition in which an excessive amount of glucose circulates in the blood plasma. This is generally a glucose level higher than 13.5mmol/l , but symptoms may not start to become noticeable until even higher values such as 15-20 mmol/l...

, malnutrition

Malnutrition

Malnutrition is the condition that results from taking an unbalanced diet in which certain nutrients are lacking, in excess , or in the wrong proportions....

 and anemia

Anemia

Anemia is a decrease in number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. However, it can include decreased oxygen-binding ability of each hemoglobin molecule due to deformity or lack in numerical development as in some other types of hemoglobin...

. High blood sugar is the most common result from the consumption of pure starch because of the high level of carbohydrates which are broken down into sugar in the body. There is 35 calories in 1 tablespoon of 100% pure cornstarch with no nutrients and 100% of the calories being from carbohydrates. The consumption of purified starch provides a high caloric intake with little nutritional value which leads to malnutrition and weight gain. Malnutrition can cause iron deficiency anemia

Iron deficiency anemia

Iron-deficiency anemia is a common anemia that occurs when iron loss occurs, and/or the dietary intake or absorption of iron is insufficient...

 if not enough iron is being absorbed to transport sufficient oxygen to the body. Additionally starch can build up in the gastrointestinal tract and cause a blockage.

During Pregnancy

Amylophagia during pregnancy results in similar characteristics to that of gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a condition in which women without previously diagnosed diabetes exhibit high blood glucose levels during pregnancy . It is widely accepted as a disease only in the United States, there is some question whether the condition is natural during pregnancy...

 and is often misdiagnosed. After the consumption of large amounts of starch blood glucose levels reach well above the normal level of 5-8mmol/L for someone two hours after they have eaten a meal. Levels above this normal range can lead to high birth weight that can result in complications during delivery and low blood sugar

Blood sugar

The blood sugar concentration or blood glucose level is the amount of glucose present in the blood of a human or animal. Normally in mammals, the body maintains the blood glucose level at a reference range between about 3.6 and 5.8 mM , or 64.8 and 104.4 mg/dL...

levels in the new born which also can lead to health risks.

Treatment

Treatment of Amylophagia begins with treatment of the underlying health factors. It often includes nutritional awareness, dietary planning, psychological counselling, and sometimes medication. Treatment of nutritional deficiency may cause cravings to stop and Amylophagia to be treated, but it is often not this easy.