#Pica syndrome eating ice full#

2.3 Psychological and physiological distress.The American Dental Association recommends not chewing ice as it can lead to dental injury and suggests that ice should be allowed to melt in the mouth instead. Īlthough some investigators also hypothesize that chewing ice may lessen pain in glossitis and stomatitis related to iron-deficiency anemia, the specific pathophysiology is still unknown and this hypothesis remains controversial. As a result, the researchers hypothesized that chewing on ice causes vascular changes that allow for increased perfusion of the brain, as well as activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which also increases blood flow to the brain, allowing for increased processing speed and alertness. Ī hypothesis of the neurological basis of pagophagia was proposed in a 2014 study in which those with iron deficiency anemia were shown to have improved response times while performing on a neuropsychological test when given ice to chew on. In the long run, as people start consuming more nonfoods compulsively, pica can also cause additional nutritional deficiencies. Later research demonstrated that the substances ingested by those who have pica generally do not provide the mineral or nutrient in which people are deficient. In iron deficient pregnant persons who experience symptoms of pagophagia, decreased cravings for ice have been observed after iron supplementation. Similarly, folk wisdom also maintained that pica reflected an appetite to compensate for nutritional deficiencies, such as low iron or zinc. Leading some investigators to postulate that some forms of pica may be the result of nutritional deficiency.

#Pica syndrome eating ice full#

However, different studies have included alternative definitions including 'daily consumption of 2-11 full glasses of ice (480-2640g)' or 'the purposeful ingestion of at least one ordinary tray of ice daily for a period in excess of two months.' Pagophagia has been shown to be associated with iron-deficiency anemia and responsive to iron supplementation, Its medical definition refers to the persistent consumption of nonnutritive substances for over a period of at least one month. It is a form of the disorder known as pica, which in Latin refers to a magpie that eats everything indiscriminately. Pagophagia (from Greek: pagos, frost/ice, + phagō, to eat ) is the compulsive consumption of ice or iced drinks. Iron-deficiency anemia, psychological distress, pregnancyīased on signs and symptoms presented and blood tests such as a complete blood count Dental injury, worsening iron deficiency or other micronutrient deficiency, hyponatremia