Refeeding Syndrome

Maintaining electrolyte and B-vitamin supplementation during a fast almost entirely eliminates the risk of refeeding syndrome. Intermittent fasting does not carry the risk of refeeding syndrome; the risk applies only to continuous fasts lasting three or more days. A real case involved a person fainting after two days of fasting with no supplementation followed by a high-carbohydrate refeeding meal. Refeeding syndrome is a potentially fatal condition triggered by reintroducing food too quickly and in the wrong forms after a prolonged fast. Refeeding syndrome is a rare but potentially serious condition triggered by resuming eating after a prolonged fast of four to seven days. The underlying mechanism is an extracellular-to-intracellular nutrient shift in which incoming nutrients are rapidly pulled into cells, sharply dropping circulating electrolyte levels. Refeeding syndrome occurs when a person in a true starvation state consumes too much food too quickly, causing dangerous electrolyte shifts. Refeeding syndrome occurs when a person with a pre-existing nutritional deficiency resumes eating after an extended fast, particularly with a large carbohydrate-heavy meal. A high-carbohydra…