In
biology, "polyphagia" is a type of
phagy, referring to an animal that feeds on many kinds of food.
Polyphagia or hyperphagia refers to excessive hunger or increased appetite.[1] It derives from the Greek words πολύς (polys) which means "very much", and φαγῶ (phago) meaning "eat".
In medicine [edit]
In medicine, polyphagia (sometimes known as hyperphagia) is a medical sign meaning excessive hunger and abnormally large intake of solids by mouth. Disorders such as diabetes, Kleine-Levin Syndrome (a malfunction in the hypothalamus), the genetic disorders Prader-Willi Syndrome and Bardet Biedl Syndrome can cause hyperphagia (compulsive hunger).[2]
Causes [edit]
Causes of increased appetite include:[3]
Diabetic ketoacidosis [edit]
Polyphagia usually occurs early in the course of diabetic ketoacidosis.[4] However, once insulin deficiency becomes more severe and ketoacidosis develops, appetite is suppressed.[5]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ Berthoud HR, Lenard NR, Shin AC (2011). "Food reward, hyperphagia, and obesity.". Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 300 (6): R1266–77. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00028.2011. PMC 3119156. PMID 21411768.
- ^ OMIM::Prader-WilliOMIM::Bardet-Biedl
- ^ NIH Medline plus
- ^ Elliott RE, Jane JA, Wisoff JH (2011). "Surgical management of craniopharyngiomas in children: meta-analysis and comparison of transcranial and transsphenoidal approaches.". Neurosurgery 69 (3): 630–43; discussion 643. doi:10.1227/NEU.0b013e31821a872d. PMID 21499159.
- ^ Masuzaki H, Tanaka T, Ebihara K, Hosoda K, Nakao K (2009). "Hypothalamic melanocortin signaling and leptin resistance--perspective of therapeutic application for obesity-diabetes syndrome.". Peptides 30 (7): 1383–6. doi:10.1016/j.peptides.2009.04.008. PMID 19394382.
External links [edit]
