We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Conditions

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Inanition?

By Kathy Dowling
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 12,265
Share

Inanition is the term used to describe an individual suffering fatigue and exhaustion due to a lack of nutrients circulating throughout the body. Nutrients are vital for an individual to survive and affect an individual's physiological functioning. Entering the body via food, nutrients assist with growth, repair of tissues, and energy production. Typical causes of inanition include starvation and malnutrition.

Different periods in life require different amounts of calories relative to energy output. For example, during adolescence, energy output is high, therefore calorie requirements are greater. During these periods, the calories needed come from nutrients, an essential component for every aspect of living. Actions such as breathing, moving, and thinking all rely on three main types of nutrients: macronutrients, minerals, and vitamins.

Macronutrients come from carbohydrates found in starchy foods, such as potatoes, protein found in meat, and fats including polyunsaturated fat found in soybeans and monounsaturated fat from olive oil. Minerals are found in most foods and provide essential nutrients to the body. Some include calcium found in milk, phosphorous found in grains and legumes, and potassium from vegetables. Like minerals, vitamins are also found in many foods and vitamins, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin D, are important for different bodily functions including vision, immunities, and bone health.

When an individual is suffering from inanition from undernourishment of macronutrients, minerals, and vitamins, symptoms will include exhaustion, a lack of energy, malaise, and/or listlessness. Exhaustion can result in a lack of physical and mental activity, which often leads to an individual becoming withdrawn from daily activities. Common causes of inanition include starvation and malnutrition, both of which result in a lack of nutrients being circulated throughout the body.

When inanition arises from starvation, it is because the individual has not eaten for a long period of time. Throughout this condition, the body produces harmful chemicals such as ketones and acetones. Ketones are produced from an imperfect oxidation of fats in the body, while acetones are produced from the partial oxidation of fatty acids. An individual suffering from starvation will experience excessive weight loss and modifications in metabolism. There are many causes of starvation, including conditions such as anorexia.

Malnutrition can also cause inanition and occurs due to a diet that is unbalanced or inadequate. The cause of malnutrition may be a result of an inadequate absorption of nutrients from the intestinal tract, or it may be the result of a lack of an essential nutrient altogether. Individuals living in poverty are frequently found to be malnourished.

Share
The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.thehealthboard.com/what-is-inanition.htm
Copy this link
The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.