Starvation and fasting: Biochemical aspects

Abstract

During a normal 24 h day, the body's essential cellular and organ functions remain homeostatic despite intermittent nutrient intake and changing metabolic demand. A highly sophisticated and integrated system provides the metabolic adaptation for these normal variations in substrate provision and utilization. A basic knowledge of the normal metabolic responses in the feeding–fasting cycle is pivotal to the understanding of the changes that occur during periods of prolonged fasting and starvation. In this review of the biochemical aspects of the metabolic responses to fasting and starvation, the term “fasting” is defined as the total absence of nutrient intake, whereas “starvation” is defined ..