Hyperalimentation

Hyperalimentation refers to a state where quantities of food consumed are greater than appropriate. It includes overeating, as well as other routes of administration such as in parenteral nutrition.

The term can also be used to describe ingestion to compensate for past deficiencies. In this context, it can refer to parenteral nutrition, though this has been described as incorrect. This is a procedure in which nutrients and vitamins are given to a person in liquid form intravenously. It is a medical procedure used for individuals who cannot get nutrients from food. This is done mainly due to impaired gastrointestinal (GI) conditions such as severe malabsorption, progressed eating disorders, polyphagia associated with diabetes mellitus etc. (since tube feeding is often preferred for non-GI related conditions).

It is a frequent iatrogenic cause of normal anion gap metabolic acidosis.

Hyperalimentation can also cause an osmotic diuresis due to an increased load of urea from protein catabolism. Frequently, it is also associated with opportunistic infections by Candida albicans.