Catabolysis: Difference between revisions

Catabolysis
Synonyms	N/A
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Muscle wasting, weakness, fatigue
Complications	Organ failure, immunodeficiency
Onset	During prolonged starvation
Duration	Until nutritional rehabilitation
Types	N/A
Causes	Lack of nutrients and calories
Risks	Malnutrition, anorexia nervosa, famine
Diagnosis	Clinical evaluation, biochemical tests
Differential diagnosis	N/A
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Nutritional support, rehabilitation
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Variable, depending on severity and duration
Frequency	Common in areas with food scarcity
Deaths	N/A

Latest revision as of 21:14, 4 April 2025

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD medical weight loss NYC and sleep center NYC

Catabolysis[edit]

Catabolysis is a metabolic process that occurs in the body during periods of starvation or severe caloric restriction. It involves the breakdown of muscle tissue and other body components to release energy and maintain vital functions. This process is crucial for survival when nutrient intake is insufficient to meet the body's energy demands.

Mechanism[edit]

During catabolysis, the body prioritizes the use of available glycogen stores and lipid reserves. Once these are depleted, the body begins to break down proteins from muscle tissue into amino acids. These amino acids are then converted into glucose through a process called gluconeogenesis, which occurs primarily in the liver. This glucose is used to supply energy to the brain and other vital organs.

Effects on the Body[edit]

The effects of catabolysis can be severe, leading to significant muscle wasting, weight loss, and organ dysfunction. Prolonged catabolysis can result in cachexia, a condition characterized by extreme weight loss and muscle atrophy. This is often seen in individuals suffering from chronic illnesses or severe malnutrition.

Clinical Significance[edit]

Understanding catabolysis is important in the management of patients with conditions such as anorexia nervosa, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), where muscle wasting is a common complication. Interventions may include nutritional support and therapies aimed at preserving muscle mass and function.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Catabolysis''' is a metabolic process that involves the breakdown of large molecules into smaller ones. This process is essential for the body to generate energy and to eliminate waste products. Catabolysis is the opposite of [[anabolism]], which involves the synthesis of larger molecules from smaller ones.
+{{SI}}
+{{Infobox medical condition
-== Overview ==
+| name            = Catabolysis
+| image           = [[File:Starved_Vietnamese_man,_1966.JPEG|250px]]
-Catabolysis is a crucial part of [[metabolism]], the set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms. It is a process that breaks down complex molecules, such as proteins and fats, into simpler ones, such as amino acids and fatty acids. This breakdown releases energy that the body can use for various functions, including growth, repair, and movement.
+| caption         = A starved Vietnamese man, 1966, illustrating the effects of severe malnutrition and catabolysis.
+| field           = [[Metabolism]]
-== Process ==
+| symptoms        = Muscle wasting, weakness, fatigue
+| complications   = [[Organ failure]], [[immunodeficiency]]
-Catabolysis begins in the [[digestive system]], where enzymes break down food into its basic components. These components are then absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to the cells. Inside the cells, these molecules undergo further catabolysis in the [[mitochondria]], the powerhouses of the cell.
+| onset           = During prolonged [[starvation]]
+| duration        = Until [[nutritional rehabilitation]]
-The process of catabolysis can be divided into three stages:
+| causes          = Lack of [[nutrients]] and [[calories]]
+| risks           = [[Malnutrition]], [[anorexia nervosa]], [[famine]]
-# '''Glycolysis:''' This is the first stage of catabolysis, where glucose is broken down into pyruvate, producing a small amount of energy.
+| diagnosis       = Clinical evaluation, [[biochemical tests]]
-# '''Krebs cycle:''' Also known as the citric acid cycle or the tricarboxylic acid cycle, this is the second stage of catabolysis. Here, pyruvate is further broken down, releasing more energy.
+| treatment       = [[Nutritional support]], [[rehabilitation]]
-# '''Electron transport chain:''' This is the final stage of catabolysis, where the most significant amount of energy is produced.
+| prognosis       = Variable, depending on severity and duration
+| frequency       = Common in areas with [[food scarcity]]
-== Role in the Body ==
+}}
+== Catabolysis ==
-Catabolysis plays a vital role in the body. It provides the energy needed for various bodily functions, including muscle contraction, nerve impulse propagation, and maintaining body temperature. It also helps in the elimination of waste products.
+[[File:Starved_Vietnamese_man,_1966.JPEG|left|thumb|A starved Vietnamese man, 1966, illustrating the effects of catabolysis.]]
+'''Catabolysis''' is a metabolic process that occurs in the body during periods of [[starvation]] or severe [[caloric restriction]]. It involves the breakdown of [[muscle tissue]] and other body components to release [[energy]] and maintain vital functions. This process is crucial for survival when [[nutrient]] intake is insufficient to meet the body's energy demands.
-== Disorders Related to Catabolysis ==
+== Mechanism ==
+During catabolysis, the body prioritizes the use of available [[glycogen]] stores and [[lipid]] reserves. Once these are depleted, the body begins to break down [[proteins]] from muscle tissue into [[amino acids]]. These amino acids are then converted into [[glucose]] through a process called [[gluconeogenesis]], which occurs primarily in the [[liver]]. This glucose is used to supply energy to the [[brain]] and other vital organs.
-Disorders related to catabolysis can lead to various health problems. For example, in [[diabetes]], the body's ability to perform catabolysis is impaired, leading to high blood sugar levels. In [[starvation]] or extreme dieting, the body may break down muscle tissue for energy, leading to muscle wasting.
+[[File:Starved_Vietnamese_man,_1966.JPEG|left|thumb|The physical effects of prolonged catabolysis can be severe.]]
+== Effects on the Body ==
-== See Also ==
+The effects of catabolysis can be severe, leading to significant [[muscle wasting]], [[weight loss]], and [[organ dysfunction]]. Prolonged catabolysis can result in [[cachexia]], a condition characterized by extreme weight loss and muscle atrophy. This is often seen in individuals suffering from chronic illnesses or severe malnutrition.
+== Clinical Significance ==
+Understanding catabolysis is important in the management of patients with conditions such as [[anorexia nervosa]], [[cancer]], and [[chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]] (COPD), where muscle wasting is a common complication. Interventions may include nutritional support and therapies aimed at preserving muscle mass and function.
+== See also ==
 * [[Metabolism]]
-* [[Anabolism]]
+* [[Starvation]]
-* [[Glycolysis]]
+* [[Gluconeogenesis]]
-* [[Krebs cycle]]
+* [[Cachexia]]
-* [[Electron transport chain]]
+* [[Anorexia nervosa]]
 [[Category:Metabolism]]
-[[Category:Biochemistry]]
-[[Category:Physiology]]
-{{medicine-stub}}