Table of contents:
People who have suffered from malnutrition need to get extra calories and nutrients during recovery. However, feeding should still be done gradually. Instead of restoring healthy weight, excessive food intake can actually cause it refeeding syndrome life-threatening.
What is that refeeding syndrome?
Refeeding is the process of introducing food after a person is severely malnourished or starved. This process is usually performed on children who have experienced malnutrition or who are suffering from eating disorders who are undergoing treatment.
Process refeeding must be done with care. The reason is, patients are at high risk of experiencing the so-called effect refeeding syndrome.
Refeeding syndrome is a condition that occurs as a result of sudden changes in the body's metabolism and the electrolyte minerals involved in it.
Changes that are so fast cause the body's minerals to become imbalanced. When the mineral balance is disturbed, body fluids will also be affected.
Disorders of body fluids are at risk of causing complications in the form of:
- Dehydration or at risk of experiencing excess fluid in the body
- Low blood pressure
- Heart failure and acute kidney failure
- Metabolic acidosis, which is the production of excess acid in the body that can harm the kidneys
- In severe cases, coma to sudden death
How refeeding syndrome could occur?
During a nutritional deficiency, your body doesn't get enough carbohydrates. In the absence of carbohydrates, blood sugar levels are low. This then reduces the production of the hormone insulin which functions to regulate blood sugar levels.
Apart from that, your body also loses its main source of energy. The body that used to burn carbohydrates now burns fat and protein. This process also has an impact on the body's mineral balance.
The mineral that is affected is phosphate. The body's cells need phosphate to convert carbohydrates into energy. When energy production switches to burning fat and protein, phosphate is no longer used so the amount decreases.
Once the body is reintroduced to food, there is a drastic change in metabolism. Your body starts getting back on carbohydrates for its energy source. Energy production that was originally from fat and protein will return to carbohydrates.
That way, blood sugar levels rise, so does insulin. The body's cells then return to look for phosphate to convert carbohydrates into energy. Unfortunately, the amount of phosphate in the body is already low. Low phosphate ultimately affects other minerals such as sodium and potassium.
Symptoms refeeding syndrome
Minerals play an important role in maintaining normal body functions. Once one mineral is out of balance, the other minerals are also affected. This impact is the signs of refeeding syndrome.
Based on the type of mineral that is disturbed, the symptoms you should be aware of include:
- Nerve and muscle problems, seizures, confusion, and loss of muscle mass due to low phosphate
- Lethargy, weakness, nausea, vomiting, and irregular heartbeat due to low magnesium
- Limpness, weakness, frequent urination, heart problems, and intestinal obstruction due to low potassium
- Other symptoms include high blood sugar, fluid build-up in the legs, muscle weakness and mental problems
Refeeding syndrome is a complication that must be considered when treating malnourished patients. Although it aims well for the patient's recovery, the introduction of food in the wrong way will actually endanger his health.
Each malnourished patient has different circumstances and needs. Therefore, patients need to consult with related medical personnel to determine a food recognition program that is suitable for their condition.
x
