Refeeding syndrome can happen when someone who has been malnourished or starved begins feeding again. Shifts in electrolyte levels can cause dangerous complications.

During refeeding, insulin secretion resumes in response to increased blood sugar, resulting in increased glycogen, fat, and protein synthesis, and the basal metabolic rate increases.

Refeeding syndrome can be defined as the potentially fatal shifts in fluids and electrolytes that may occur in malnourished patients receiving artificial refeeding (whether enterally or parenterally 5).

Jun 24, 2024 · A major cause of refeeding syndrome seems to be an endogenous insulin surge, which is triggered by carbohydrate intake. As such, this might be most accurately termed “carbohydrate …

Jun 5, 2025 · Learn what happens during refeeding for malnutrition, including benefits, side effects and prevention of refeeding syndrome.

While there is no universally accepted definition of refeeding syndrome, it is generally described as the medical complications that can occur as a result of increasing caloric intake after a period of being …

Aug 13, 2025 · Refeeding syndrome is a serious and potentially fatal complication of nutritional rehabilitation. It occurs in significantly malnourished patients when a diet of increasing calories is …

Oct 11, 2024 · Refeeding syndrome occurs when a person ends a period of fasting. Taking in nutrition again sets off a series of body system reactions that may cause serious or life-threatening symptoms.

Refeeding syndrome is a dangerous and life threatening shift of fluids and body salts (electrolytes) that can occur when malnourished patients receive treatment with refeeding.

Understand the basics about refeeding syndrome, including symptoms and treatment options.