Tag: Starvation ketoacidosis

While moderate fasting is generally considered safe for healthy individuals, prolonged periods without adequate food intake can lead to a dangerous medical condition known as starvation ketoacidosis. This happens when the body, lacking glucose, breaks down fat for energy and produces excess ketones, which can cause the blood to become too acidic.

Starvation can indeed cause an increased anion gap, and is a well-documented phenomenon known as starvation ketoacidosis. After approximately 12–14 hours of fasting, the body begins producing ketones as an alternative fuel source, which can eventually lead to metabolic acidosis and a wider anion gap. This condition, while often milder than diabetic ketoacidosis, can still pose significant health risks if left untreated.

While mild ketosis is a normal physiological response to fasting and is generally harmless, prolonged starvation or specific medical conditions can trigger a more severe metabolic state known as ketoacidosis. So, can fasting cause acidosis? The risk depends heavily on the duration of the fast and an individual's overall health.

According to a 2024 study, starvation ketoacidosis (SKA) represents one of the three primary forms of metabolic acidosis caused by the accumulation of ketone bodies. This occurs when the body, deprived of its usual energy source from carbohydrates, begins breaking down fats, which generates acidic ketones that can overwhelm the body's buffering systems. Understanding this metabolic shift is crucial for recognizing the serious health risks associated with prolonged nutritional deprivation.