Do you often feel tired and lethargic and suddenly lose weight for no reason? | Be careful, you could experience metabolic disorders!

Understanding Metabolic Disorders

Metabolic disorders are abnormalities in the body's metabolic processes. Metabolism is the process by which the body needs to produce energy from the food it takes in. Food contains protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Chemicals found in the digestive system are able to break down these foods into energy for the body. This energy can be used directly or stored in several body tissues. Metabolic disorders can occur when there are abnormal chemical reactions in the body related to this process. This disorder can cause a person to have too much or too little of various substances needed to stay healthy. There are many metabolic disorders, including effects on the breakdown of amino acids, carbohydrates, and lipids.

This disorder generally occurs due to genetic abnormalities resulting in metabolic abnormalities. That way, enzymes that play a role in cell metabolic processes are lost or damaged. Apart from that, it can also be caused by non-genetic disorders such as food, toxins, infections, etc.

Causes of Metabolic Disorders

Metabolism is a complex process in the body. Therefore, there is a high chance of experiencing problems, including metabolic disorders. There are several things that can cause this disease, such as:

• Genetics: Genes are known to influence metabolic processes in many ways.
• Organ dysfunction: disorders of organs involved in metabolic processes.

However, it is not always clear what causes this disorder. For example, type 1 diabetes mellitus is caused by an autoimmune disease, so that the body's immune cells attack the pancreas. However, the cause of this autoimmune disorder is still uncertain. In addition, genetic disorders can cause problems with the function of enzymes that are important in metabolism. That way, toxins in the bloodstream continue to accumulate because they are difficult to get rid of. This can also cause metabolic disorders.

Risk Factors for Metabolic Disorders

You also need to know that there are several factors that can increase a person's risk of experiencing this disorder, such as:

• Age: The risk of this disease increases with age.

• Obesity: A person with excess weight, especially in the abdomen, has a higher risk of metabolic disorders.

• Having diabetes: Someone who has diabetes while pregnant or has a family history of type 2 diabetes also has a higher risk.

• Other diseases: Some diseases can increase the risk of this disorder, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, or sleep apnea.

Symptoms of Metabolic Disorders

This metabolic-related disorder can cause different symptoms for each sufferer. The symptoms of this metabolic disorder depend on the type experienced. Some common symptoms, such as:

• Pain in the stomach.
• Tired and lethargic.
• Weight reduce.
• Vomit.
• Low appetite.
• Abnormal smell of sweat, saliva,urine,e or breath.
• Delay in physical development.
• Failure to gain weight or grow.
• Jaundice.
• Convulsions.
• Coma.

Symptoms can occur suddenly or develop slowly. Apart from that, symptoms can also arise due to food, drugs, dehydration, or other factors. In babies, symptoms can appear several weeks after birth. Meanwhile, in congenital metabolic disorders, the symptoms may take years to develop.

Diagnosis of Metabolic Disorders

To diagnose a metabolic disorder, the doctor will ask about symptoms and check your medical and family history. The doctor will look for genetic factors that can cause this disease. After that, the doctor will perform several different medical tests to identify the problem, including blood tests. Some disorders may be more difficult for doctors to diagnose.

In babies born with symptoms of metabolic disorders, routine screening tests are needed to diagnose the cause. If this disorder is not detected at birth, it will be difficult to diagnose it until symptoms appear.

Treatment of Metabolic Disorders

 

Most types of this disorder cannot be cured and can only be treated in a limited way. Sufferers need to apply several principles related to managing metabolic disorders, such as:

• Reducing or eliminating food or drug intake that the body cannot process normally.
• Removes toxic substances that the body fails to remove.
• Replacing enzymes or other chemicals that are missing or inactive so that metabolism can approach normal.

Medication consumption is also needed to fulfill several things in the body, such as insulin. Medication can also be taken to control certain symptoms, make a person feel better, and avoid life-threatening emergencies.

Meanwhile, treatment measures can include:

• Taking enzyme replacement supplements to help the metabolic process.
• Removing harmful substances resulting from metabolism from the blood using certain chemicals.

• A special diet that eliminates certain types of nutrients that the body cannot absorb properly.

A person with a metabolic disorder with severe symptoms should generally be treated in the hospital. Apart from that, sufferers also need life support equipment. In this case, emergency treatment and improving organ function will be the doctor's main focus.

Complications of Metabolic Disorders

There are several complications that can occur in people with metabolic disorders, such as:

• Type 2 diabetes.

           This disorder occurs when there are no lifestyle changes to control excess weight. This can develop insulin resistance, so that sugar levels rise. Eventually, type 2 diabetes occurs.

• Heart and blood vessel disease.

           Plaque buildup in the arteries can cause cholesterol and blood pressure to increase. If left untreated, you can experience a heart attack or stroke.

• Kidney illness.

           Decreased kidney function or kidney leakage can be caused by metabolic disorders.

• Liver Disease.

          Diseases due to disorders of carbohydrate and fat metabolism can cause fatty livers.

Prevention of Metabolic Disorders

There are several efforts that can be made to prevent metabolic disorders, such as:

• Avoid consuming foods that are difficult for the body to process normally.
• Replace enzymes that are lost from the body by consuming supplements that replace these enzymes, so that metabolic processes can improve.
• Do a special diet, which can be consulted with a doctor or nutritionist first.
• Maintain an ideal body weight.
• Eat healthy foods, such as vegetables and fruit.
• Make sure to stay physically active.
• Consume more water than drinks containing sugar.

When should you see a doctor?

Consult a doctor if you experience symptoms of metabolic disorders, as mentioned above. Have your baby or child checked by a pediatrician regularly. This is important for monitoring growth and development as well as for the early detection of any abnormalities that he may experience. The examination can be carried out at the same time as the child's immunization schedule.

If you experience symptoms or complaints like those above, you should immediately discuss them with your doctor. Proper and immediate treatment can reduce the negative impacts of this condition. For this reason, immediately visit Hermina Pasteur Hospital.

 

Made by: Dr. Tri Sasangka Putra

Reviewed by: Dr. Affan Ahmadi, Sp.PD, M.Kes, FINASIM

 

Reference:

National Institute of Health (2021). MedlinePlus. Metabolic Disorders.

Intermountain Healthcare. 2022. Metabolic Disorders.

Web MD. 2022. Inherited Metabolic Disorders.

Medical News Today. 2022. What to know about metabolic disorders.

Medline Plus. 2022. Metabolic Disorders.

Regufe, V., Pinto, C., & Pedro, P. (2020). Metabolic Syndrome in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Review of Current Evidence. Porto Biomedical Journal, 5(6), pp. 1–6.
Suastika, K. (2020). The Challenges of Metabolic Disorders in Indonesia: Focus on Metabolic Syndrome, Prediabetes, and Diabetes. Medical Journal of Indonesia, 29(4), pp. 350–3.
American Diabetes Association (2020). Diabetes Type 2.