Hyperalimentation
Encyclopedia
Hyperalimentation refers to a state where quantities of food
consumed are greater than appropriate. It includes overeating
, as well as other routes of administration such as in parenteral nutrition.
The term can also be used to describe ingestion to compensate for past deficiencies. In this context, it can refer to parenteral nutrition, though this has been described as incorrect. This is a procedure in which nutrient
s and vitamin
s are given to a person in liquid form intravenously. It is a medical procedure used for individuals who cannot get nutrients from food. This is done mainly due to impaired gastrointestinal (GI) conditions such as severe malabsorption
, progressed eating disorder
s, etc. (since tube feeding is often preferred for non-GI related conditions).
It is a frequent iatrogenic cause of normal anion gap
metabolic acidosis
.
Hyperalimentation can also cause an osmotic diuresis
due to an increased load of urea
from protein catabolism
.
Frequently, it is also associated with opportunistic infection
s by Candida albicans
.
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
consumed are greater than appropriate. It includes overeating
Overeating
Overeating generally refers to the long-term consumption of excess food in relation to the energy that an organism expends , leading to weight gainingand often obesity. It may be regarded as an eating disorder....
, as well as other routes of administration such as in parenteral nutrition.
The term can also be used to describe ingestion to compensate for past deficiencies. In this context, it can refer to parenteral nutrition, though this has been described as incorrect. This is a procedure in which nutrient
Nutrient
A nutrient is a chemical that an organism needs to live and grow or a substance used in an organism's metabolism which must be taken in from its environment. They are used to build and repair tissues, regulate body processes and are converted to and used as energy...
s and vitamin
Vitamin
A vitamin is an organic compound required as a nutrient in tiny amounts by an organism. In other words, an organic chemical compound is called a vitamin when it cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by an organism, and must be obtained from the diet. Thus, the term is conditional both on...
s are given to a person in liquid form intravenously. It is a medical procedure used for individuals who cannot get nutrients from food. This is done mainly due to impaired gastrointestinal (GI) conditions such as severe malabsorption
Malabsorption
Malabsorption is a state arising from abnormality in absorption of food nutrients across the gastrointestinal tract.Impairment can be of single or multiple nutrients depending on the abnormality...
, progressed eating disorder
Eating disorder
Eating disorders refer to a group of conditions defined by abnormal eating habits that may involve either insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of an individual's physical and mental health. Bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are the most common specific...
s, etc. (since tube feeding is often preferred for non-GI related conditions).
It is a frequent iatrogenic cause of normal anion gap
Anion gap
The anion gap is the difference in the measured cations and the measured anions in serum, plasma, or urine. The magnitude of this difference in the serum is often calculated in medicine when attempting to identify the cause of metabolic acidosis...
metabolic acidosis
Metabolic acidosis
In medicine, metabolic acidosis is a condition that occurs when the body produces too much acid or when the kidneys are not removing enough acid from the body. If unchecked, metabolic acidosis leads to acidemia, i.e., blood pH is low due to increased production of hydrogen by the body or the...
.
Hyperalimentation can also cause an osmotic diuresis
Osmotic diuresis
Osmotic diuresis is increased urination caused by the presence of certain substances in the small tubes of the kidneys. The excretion occurs when substances such as glucose enter the kidney tubules and cannot be reabsorbed...
due to an increased load of urea
Urea
Urea or carbamide is an organic compound with the chemical formula CO2. The molecule has two —NH2 groups joined by a carbonyl functional group....
from protein catabolism
Protein catabolism
Protein catabolism is the breakdown of proteins into amino acids and simple derivative compounds, for transport into the cell through the plasma membrane and ultimately for the polymerisation into new proteins via the use of ribonucleic acids and ribosomes...
.
Frequently, it is also associated with opportunistic infection
Opportunistic infection
An opportunistic infection is an infection caused by pathogens, particularly opportunistic pathogens—those that take advantage of certain situations—such as bacterial, viral, fungal or protozoan infections that usually do not cause disease in a healthy host, one with a healthy immune system...
s by Candida albicans
Candida albicans
Candida albicans is a diploid fungus that grows both as yeast and filamentous cells and a causal agent of opportunistic oral and genital infections in humans. Systemic fungal infections including those by C...
.