High temperature causes metabolism to go up - Experts

Today we commemorate World Malaria day. Malaria is still a leading killer, especially of children below five years, in sub-Saharan Africa. One common symptom of malaria is fever. Jacquiline Emodek sought out experts to explain what the fever means and how it needs to be managed.

Nicholas Ndahura Bari an assistant lecturer at Kyambogo university Department of Human Nutrition and Home economics explains that metabolism describes all of the chemical and biological processes involved in sustaining the life of an organism.

Hence metabolism includes digestion, excretion, temperature regulation, breathing, cell repair and new cell growth.

When an individual becomes comes sick with any diseases that presents with a high temperature, such as malaria, their metabolism increases to fight off the illness.

"This is because bacterial or viral infections cause the body to release proteins called pyrogens which act on the hypothalamus (a small area of the brain is responsible for body temperature regulation," he explains.
This causes the raise the body's temperature.

Importantly in some cases the pyrogens are released by the disease causing microorganisms themselves.

"While the temperature is rising, the tiny vessels supplying the skin with blood narrow, sharply reducing sweating, which is a way for body heat to escape," Ndahura says.

The body thus produces more heat than it can lose, and fever will result.
This mechanism helps the body to fight off infection, and in some cases a very high fever may actually kill the bacteria causing the infection.

Despite the fact that fever is basically a protective mechanism it often produces weakness. The body loses large amounts of salts and water through sweating, and the patient's appetite is greatly reduced.

"Prolonged fever may also result in the destruction of body protein and fat, which can lead to serious weight loss," Jamiru Mpiima a nutritionist at Victoria university hospital explains.

Therefore, the patient should be given more of fluids like fruit juice or vegetable juice extracts, water in addition to a balanced diet comprising of pulses (beans, peas), poultry, fish, whole grains and plenty of vegetables and fruits.

Prisca Uwera a nutritionist at Center for Nutrition Education and Technology (CeNET Uganda) also states that any disease that gives you a high temperature causes your metabolism to go up.

"The enzymes which are chemical catalysts, responsible for different chemical reactions require a certain temperature for their functioning. Enzyme activity is hence slower at lower temperatures making metabolism lower at those lower temperatures," she says.

Notably enzymes are inactive at zero and for each degree rise in temperature, metabolism increases ten times.

For fever that lasts over a period of 10-14 days, foods rich in protein like fish and meat ought to be included in a patient's diet.

"A prolonged fever results in the increased carbohydrate metabolism due to the increased energy needs for the body as its fights off the infection," Ndahura explains.
This leads to the depletion of glycogen (stored form of glucose in the body's muscles and liver). This process subsequently causes the breakdown of body protein as an energy source thus the need for adequate protein to be included in the diet of the patient.