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Review
. 2023 Nov:157:106365.
doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106365. Epub 2023 Aug 10.

Neuroendocrine adaptations to starvation

Tânia Amorim  1 , Anamil Khiyami  2 , Tariq Latif  3 , Pouneh K Fazeli  4
Affiliations
Review

Neuroendocrine adaptations to starvation

Tânia Amorim et al. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2023 Nov.

Abstract

Famine and starvation have punctuated the evolutionary past of the human species. As such, we have developed hormonal responses to undernutrition that minimize energy expenditure on processes that are not critical for the survival of the individual, such as reproduction. In this review, we discuss neuroendocrine adaptations to starvation including hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, growth hormone resistance, hypercortisolemia, and the downregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis. We review the time-course of these adaptations by describing studies involving the short-term fasting of healthy individuals as well as studies describing the hormonal changes in states of chronic undernutrition, using individuals with anorexia nervosa as a model of chronic starvation. Lastly, we review representative clinical effects of chronic undernutrition.

Keywords: Amenorrhea; Anorexia nervosa; Bone marrow adipose tissue; Growth hormone resistance.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest PKF is a consultant for Regeneron and Xeris Pharmaceuticals. Tânia Amorim, Anamil Khiyami and Tariq Latif declare they have no conflict of interest.

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