Page last updated: 2024-11-10

pica

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Description

Pica: The persistent eating of non-nutritive substances for a period of at least one month. [Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), National Library of Medicine, extracted Dec-2023]

Cross-References

ID SourceID
PubMed CID3013459
SCHEMBL ID5851593
MeSH IDM0016832

Synonyms (8)

Synonym
9-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]pyrido[3,4-b]indole-3-carbohydroxamic acid
9h-pyrido[3,4-b]indole-3-carboxamide, 9-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]-n-hydroxy-
pica
9-(4-fluorobenzyl)-n-hydroxy-9h-beta-carboline-3-carboxamide
zzw ,
SCHEMBL5851593
Q27468129
ADHFMENDOUEJRK-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Research Excerpts

Overview

Pica is a psychological eating disorder that is characterized by the consumption of items that contain no nutritional value. Pica is an increased appetite/craving for food or non-food substances like clay, and chalk, and is strongly associated with iron deficiency (ID) anemia.

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
"Pica is a psychological eating disorder that is characterized by the consumption of items that contain no nutritional value. "( Pica behaviors in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease: a scoping review protocol.
Clark, OM; Williams, R, 2020
)
3.44
"Pica is a poorly understood psychiatric disorder that presents with the ingestion of non-nutritious substances for unclear reasons. "( Mothball ingestion as a manifestation of pica, leading to paradichlorobenzene CNS toxicity.
Gianniosis, M; Leong, JY; Zafar, S; Zhang, Y, 2020
)
2.27
"Pica is an eating disorder characterized by craving for nonfood items, such as dirt, clay, detergents, soap, stone, and paper. "( Pica: Treatment with Punica Granatum extract.
Jokar, A; Shekarriz, Z; Yousefi, SS, 2021
)
3.51
"Pica is an increased appetite/craving for food or non-food substances like clay, and chalk, and is strongly associated with iron deficiency (ID) anemia. "( Pica Practices among Apparently Healthy Women and Their Young Children in Ghana.
Abu, BAZ; Louw, VJ; Raubenheimer, JE; van den Berg, VL, 2017
)
3.34
"Pica is a rare phenomenon associated with iron deficiency and can occur despite oral iron supplementation. "( A Different Kind of Craving: Incidence and Treatment of Pica After Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.
Fredrickson, KA; Kallies, KJ; Kothari, SN; Van Osdol, AD, 2017
)
2.14
"Pica is an individual entity in the patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD), which phenomenon has not been widely studied despite the high reported prevalence. "( Pica in end-stage chronic kidney disease: Literature review.
Cortés-Sanabria, L; Márquez-Herrera, RM; Núñez-Murillo, GK; Orozco-González, CN,
)
3.02
"Pica is an extremely troublesome behaviors and causes a particularly high burdens for family caregivers. "( [Pica].
Funayama, M, 2018
)
2.83
"Pica is a common condition in childhood that is commonly missed."( Pica: A Common Condition that is Commonly Missed - An Update Review.
Hon, KL; Leung, AKC, 2019
)
3.4
"Pica is a significant cause of anemia and lead poisoning."( Pica: A Common Condition that is Commonly Missed - An Update Review.
Hon, KL; Leung, AKC, 2019
)
2.68
"Pica is a serious condition that is characterized by ingesting inedible things which can prove to be fatal (glass, pebbles, etc.) We present the case of a 64-year-old male patient who is admitted to the emergency room with the following complaints: upper GI tract bleeding manifested through hematemesis and melena, epigastric pain, lack of bowel movements. "( Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Hemorrhage: Unexpected Discovery.
Butiurca, VO; Copotoiu, C; Decebal, F; Kwizera, C; Milutin, D; Molnar, C; Ţicalo, A,
)
1.57
"Pica is a very serious problem in which an individual ingests substances without nutrition value, such as paper and paint. "( Pica in persons with developmental disabilities: approaches to treatment.
Belva, B; Hattier, MA; Matson, JL; Matson, ML, 2013
)
3.28
"Pica is a commonly underappreciated disorder in pregnancy that can lead to several complications, including severe metabolic derangements and other adverse outcomes. "( Baking soda pica associated with rhabdomyolysis and cardiomyopathy in pregnancy.
Myles, T; Scolari Childress, KM, 2013
)
2.21
"Pica is a potentially deadly form of self-injurious behavior most frequently exhibited by individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. "( Clinical Outcomes of Behavioral Treatments for Pica in Children with Developmental Disabilities.
Alvarez, JP; Call, NA; Mevers, JE; Simmons, CA, 2015
)
2.12
"Pica is an eating disorder, defined by long-term ingestion of non-nutritive substances."( [Prevalence of pica in iron deficiency anemia in Marrakech (Morocco)].
Mahmal, L; Nafil, H; Tazi, I,
)
1.93
"Pica is an eating disorder characterized by the persistent ingestion of substances that the consumer does not define as food. "( Prevalence and risk factors for pica during pregnancy in Tehran, Iran.
Ezzeddin, N; Jahanihashemi, H; Noroozi, M; Riseh, SH; Zavoshy, R, 2015
)
2.14
"Pica is an unusual craving for and ingestion of either edible or inedible substances first observed in pregnant women but has been reported in all groups of people. "( A CASE OF PICA FOLLOWING A PARAMILITARY PRE-EMPLOYMENT ORIENTATION CAMP.
Aken'Ova, YA; Akunwata, C; Aworanti, O; Ogundeji, SP,
)
1.98
"Pica is an eating disorder characterized by persistent ingestion of substances that the consumer does not define as food."( The Association Between Postpartum Depression and Pica During Pregnancy.
Ezzeddin, N; Jahanihashemi, H; Noroozi, M; Sarichloo, ME; Zavoshy, R, 2015
)
1.39
"Pica is a compulsive eating of non-nutritive substances and can have serious medical implications. "( Dramatic oral findings belonging to a pica patient: a case report.
Goze, F; Kantarci, A; Ozan, F; Ozdemir, H; Sencan, M; Toker, H; Turgut, M, 2009
)
2.07
"Pica is a medical disorder characterized by an appetite for substances largely non-nutritive (e.g."( Suicide attempt by swallowing sponge or pica disorder: a case report.
Cizmić, A; Pajid, A; Zganjer, M; Zganjer, V; Zupancić, B, 2011
)
1.36
"Pica is a dangerous form of self-injurious behavior that occurs in people with developmental disabilities who are institutionalized. "( Assessment, behavioral treatment, and prevention of pica: clinical guidelines and recommendations for practitioners.
McAdam, D; Williams, DE,
)
1.82
"Pica is a life-threatening behavior displayed by many individuals with developmental disabilities. "( Varying response effort in the treatment of pica maintained by automatic reinforcement.
Abt, KA; Boney, BR; Keeney, KM; Piazza, CC; Roane, HS, 2002
)
2.02
"Pica is a psychotic disorder characterized by compulsive ingestion of nonfood substances; the primary treatment is the prevention with antipsychotic therapy. "( [Pica: a clinical case and therapeutic problems].
Borsi, E; Buoinincontro, S; Capasso, L; Casale, LS; D'Ambrosio, R,
)
2.48
"Pica is an eating disorder associated with ingestion of variety of non-food substances. "( Geophagia leading to hypokalemic quadriparesis in a postpartum patient.
Daga, GL; Trivedi, TH; Yeolekar, ME, 2005
)
1.77
"Pica is a common but often overlooked practice that can potentially lead to life-threatening disorders. "( Baking soda pica: a case of hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis and rhabdomyolysis in pregnancy.
Dandolu, V; Geifman-Holtzman, O; Grotegut, CA; Katari, S; Teitelman, M; Whiteman, VE, 2006
)
2.16
"Pica is a compulsive eating disorder involving non-nutritive substances. "( An uncommon dental presentation during pregnancy resulting from multiple eating disorders: pica and bulimia: case report.
Johnson, C; Johnson, CD; Koh, J; Koh, SH; Shynett, B,
)
1.79
"Pica is a eating disorder, of the eating behavior in childhood. "( [Pica: the portrait of a little known clinical entity].
Miján de la Torre, A; Viguria Padilla, F,
)
2.48
"Pica is a common disorder in childhood, however, in adults it is associated with mental retardation, psychosis and pregnancy. "( Pica responding to SSRI: an OCD spectrum disorder?
Bhatia, MS; Gupta, R, 2009
)
3.24
"Pica behavior is a well-identified risk factor of lead intoxication in children but is quite exceptional in adults, where it is usually considered to be a psychiatric condition."( Lead poisoning following ingestion of pieces of lead roofing plates: pica-like behavior in an adult.
Benevent, M; Descotes, J; Sabouraud, S; Soglu, G; Testud, F, 2008
)
1.3
"Pica is a serious health risk for mentally handicapped patients. "( Pica in the mentally handicapped: a 15-year surgical perspective.
Decker, CJ, 1993
)
3.17
"Pica is an underdiagnosed problem that can be caused by a variety of disorders and can lead to serious complications."( Pica: are you hungry for the facts?
Federman, DG; Federman, GS; Kirsner, RS, 1997
)
2.46
"Pica is a pathologic craving for substances not commonly regarded as foods. "( [Pica in psychotic patients: an unusual cause of acute abdomen].
D'Eredità, G; Lorusso, G; Losacco, T; Martellotta, M; Natale, T; Polizzi, RA, 1999
)
2.66
"Clay pica is a form of compulsive ingestion of non-nutritive substances frequently practiced by dialysis patients. "( Clay pica has no hematologic or metabolic correlate in chronic hemodialysis patients.
Conner, AC; Crowell, AK; Obialo, CI; Simmons, EL; Wen, XJ, 2001
)
1.34
"Pica is an eating disorder characterized by the irrepressible and elective craving for food and non-food substances. "( [Rapid regression of prolonged pagophagia after treatment of iron deficiency].
Eclache, V; Fain, O; Kettaneh, A; Sontag, C; Thomas, M, 2001
)
1.75
"Pica is a habit disorder involving the compulsive, irrational ingestion of nutrient or non-nutrient substances which usually, in young infants, include clay and earth. "( [Pica and iron deficiency in adolescence].
Combes, JC; Giudicelli, J, 1992
)
2.64
"Pica is a behavior commonly displayed by children, pregnant females, and individuals with mental retardation. "( Pica: a peculiar behavior with oral involvement.
Bedinger, S; Burtner, AP; Garvey, TP; McNeal, DR; Wakham, MD,
)
3.02
"Pica is an eating disorder that is manifested by a craving for oral ingestion of a given substance that is unusual in kind and or quantity. "( Broadening the perspective of pica: literature review.
Lacey, EP,
)
1.86

Effects

Pica has long been associated with micronutrient deficiencies, but the strength of this relationship is unclear. Pica has been considered as the ingestion of inedible substances or atypical food combinations.

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
"The pica behavior has been the focus of attention in physiological and pharmacological studies, because its consumption is a good marker of nausea in laboratory rats, which cannot vomit due to neuroanatomical reasons."( Pica caused by emetic drugs in laboratory rats with kaolin, gypsum, and lime as test substances.
Nakajima, S, 2023
)
2.83
"Pica has been studied in India and elsewhere for more than 100 years, yet no compelling and empirically well-supported explanation for it has emerged. "( A test of three hypotheses of pica and amylophagy among pregnant women in Tamil Nadu, India.
Hagen, EH; Placek, CD,
)
1.86
"Pica has long been associated with micronutrient deficiencies, but the strength of this relationship is unclear."( A meta-analysis of pica and micronutrient status.
Golden, CD; Miao, D; Young, SL,
)
1.18
"Pica has been considered as the ingestion of inedible substances or atypical food combinations."( [Pica: epidemiology and association with pregnancy complications].
Astulla, A; Della Líbera, B; Nogueira, JL; Oliveira, LM; Padilha, Pde C; Saunders, C, 2009
)
1.98
"''PICA'' has been observed in ethnic groups worldwide in primitive and modern cultures, in both sexes and in all age groups."( PICA.
Aparna, PV; Austin, RD; Mathew, P,
)
2.13
"Pica has rarely been reported in patients with geriatric mental illness. "( Pica in the geriatric mentally ill: unrelenting and potentially fatal.
Devanand, DP; Dumaguing, NI; Sethi, M; Singh, I, 2003
)
3.2
"Pica has been described as a world wide phenomenon, but there are more frequent occurrences of selected substances among selected groups--especially young children and black pregnant and nonpregnant women in the southern part of the USA."( [Pica in Germany--amylophagia as the etiology of iron deficiency anemia].
Cuntze, H; Lang, A; Menge, H, 1998
)
1.93
"Pica has been found to be related to cognitive deficits and hyperoral behaviour to temporal lesions."( An unusual case of pica.
Bach, L; Beecroft, N; Howard, R; Tunstall, N, 1998
)
1.35
"Pica also has been associated with maternal and perinatal mortality."( Pica practices of pregnant women.
Horner, RD; Kolasa, K; Lackey, CJ; Warren, K, 1991
)
2.45

Treatment

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
"Treatment of pica may prove effective in preventing recurrent nephrolithiasis."( Sodium chloride pica causing recurrent nephrolithiasis in a patient with iron deficiency anemia: a case report.
Bird, V; Kramer, J; Rogers, B; Rosenberg, EI; Smith, S, 2017
)
1.15

Toxicity

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
" All three dimensions were included in a clinical decision-making model to determine the least restrictive, safe level of restraint for a 4-year-old girl while assessment and treatment procedures were conducted."( Comparing methods for maintaining the safety of a child with pica.
Krug, MA; LeBlanc, LA; Piazza, CC,
)
0.37
" We also demonstrate that GSK356278 enhances performance in a model of executive function in cynomolgus macaques with no adverse effects, a therapeutic profile that supports further evaluation of GSK356278 in a clinical setting."( GSK356278, a potent, selective, brain-penetrant phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor that demonstrates anxiolytic and cognition-enhancing effects without inducing side effects in preclinical species.
Arban, R; Cavallini, P; Davies, CH; Davis, TG; Gray, FA; Montanari, D; Negri, M; Poffe, A; Rutter, AR; Schneck, J; Vicentini, E; Wren, PB, 2014
)
0.4
" Some studies have helped to identify some minerals that are toxic to human if ingested."( Geophagia: Benefits and potential toxicity to human-A review.
Bonglaisin, JN; Bonny, P; Kunsoan, NB; Matchawe, C; Mbofung, CM; Nkeunen, G; Tata, BN, 2022
)
0.72

Bioavailability

ExcerptReferenceRelevance
" This has reduced the bioavailability of trace elements so that study of trace metals, especially Zn and Cu, in skeletal and dental remains at human burial and occupation sites should prove useful in assessing the consequences of this striking change in dietary habits."( Trace elements in man.
Moynahan, EJ, 1979
)
0.26
" The bioavailability of different lead compounds is reviewed as well as factors affecting susceptibility to lead."( Quantities of lead producing health effects in humans: sources and bioavailability.
Mahaffey, KR, 1977
)
0.26
" Finally, analyses relating to biological interactions are recommended, including determination of the bioavailability of nutrients and other bioactive components from pica substances, as well as their detoxification capacities and parasitological profiles."( Toward a comprehensive approach to the collection and analysis of pica substances, with emphasis on geophagic materials.
Hillier, S; Miller, D; Wilson, MJ; Young, SL, 2008
)
0.78
" Future studies needs to evaluate the bioavailability of As and other elements from sikor and their impact on human health."( Risk of human exposure to arsenic and other toxic elements from geophagy: trace element analysis of baked clay using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
Al-Rmalli, SW; Haris, PI; Jenkins, RO; Watts, MJ, 2010
)
0.36
" Despite their potential to supply micronutrients, soils interfere with bioavailability of micronutrients leading to micronutrient deficiency and can also act as a pathway for ingestion of geohelminths and heavy metals, putting woman and fetus at risk."( Geophagy during pregnancy in Africa: a literature review.
Elchalal, U; Njiru, H; Paltiel, O, 2011
)
0.37
" Geophagic materials may be a source of micronutrients though the materials may bind the micronutrients thus reducing or hindering their bioavailability in the body."( Heavy metals and parasitic geohelminths toxicity among geophagous pregnant women: a case study of Nakuru Municipality, Kenya.
Mbuthia, EK; Moturi, WN; Odongo, AO, 2016
)
0.43
" This study assumes 100% bioavailability of elements in the geophagic materials, in the absence of a bioaccessibility test."( Geochemical and mineralogical composition of geophagic materials from Baringo town, Kenyan Rift Valley and their possible health effects on the consumers.
Gevera, PK; Mouri, H, 2021
)
0.62

Dosage Studied

Buprenorphine is commonly used as (part of) postoperative analgesic treatment with dosage dependent side-effects such as pica behaviour. A significant dose-response relationship was observed between increasing doses of pretreatment with AGBE and reduction in cisplatin-induced pica.

ExcerptRelevanceReference
" Maximum permissible levels of lead in soil have been recommended based on the dose-response relationship of lead in soil and blood lead in children."( Lead in soil: recommended maximum permissible levels.
Madhavan, S; Rosenman, KD; Shehata, T, 1989
)
0.28
" The appearance of eating and pica at the same dosage suggested that rats may eat food as well as a nonnutritive substance as a species-specific reaction to illness and that postdrug feeding, including that observed after 2DG, is an insufficient condition for concluding that a treatment produces no internal distress."( Patterns of increased and decreased ingestive behavior after injections of lithium chloride and 2-deoxy-D-glucose.
Leitner, C; Watson, PJ, 1988
)
0.56
" In general, these data indicated that malaise may be an important influence of 2DG; but dosage and time course parameters associated with post-drug reductions in drinking suggested that a separable consummatory inhibition effect may also occur."( Inhibited drinking and pica in rats following 2-deoxy-D-glucose.
Bartles, RR; Beatey, S; Hawkins, C; McKinney, J; Rhea, K; Watson, PJ, 1987
)
0.58
"A significant dose-response relationship was observed between increasing doses of pretreatment with AGBE and reduction in cisplatin-induced pica."( American ginseng berry extract and ginsenoside Re attenuate cisplatin-induced kaolin intake in rats.
Aung, H; Mehendale, S; Wang, A; Wang, CZ; Xie, JT; Yin, JJ; Yuan, CS, 2005
)
0.53
" Animals dosed with DACT developed avoidance responses comparable to the highest dose of ATR."( Atrazine does not induce pica behavior at doses that increase hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation and cause conditioned taste avoidance.
Best, DS; Cooper, RL; Hotchkiss, MG; Laws, SC,
)
0.43
"Buprenorphine is commonly used as (part of) postoperative analgesic treatment with dosage dependent side-effects such as pica behaviour."( Optimizing the dosing interval of buprenorphine in a multimodal postoperative analgesic strategy in the rat: minimizing side-effects without affecting weight gain and food intake.
Arndt, SS; Hellebrekers, LJ; Mitsogiannis, MD; Schaap, MW; Uilenreef, JJ; van 't Klooster, JG, 2012
)
0.59
" Minimal impact on iron status indicators was observed in all non-control groups, suggesting dosing of geophagic materials may need refining in future studies."( A Novel in Vivo Model for Assessing the Impact of Geophagic Earth on Iron Status.
Ahn, C; Glahn, RP; Seim, GL; Tako, E; Young, SL, 2016
)
0.43
" After an acclimation period, the incidence of rats engaging in pica following the administration of a test article can be used to generate a dose-response curve of the pica behavior."( Pica in Rats as a Preclinical Model of Emesis.
Davis, TG, 2016
)
2.12
" In a pilot study for optimising dosage and body weight development, C57BL/6 mice were treated with GTG (0."( Fatal gastric distension in a gold thioglucose mouse model of obesity.
Kleuser, B; Krämer, S; Nitezki, T, 2019
)
0.51
"6 mg/kg ondansetron + cisplatin, O-treated), high dosage of [6]-gingerol-treated group (100 mg/kg [6]-gingerol + cisplatin, GH-treated), and low dosage of [6]-gingerol-treated group (50 mg/kg [6]-gingerol + cisplatin, GL-treated)."( [6]-Gingerol Ameliorates Cisplatin-Induced Pica by Regulating the TPH/MAO-A/SERT/5-HT/5-HT
Chen, S; Cheng, Q; Feng, X; Li, Y; Meng, Q; Nie, K; Wang, G, 2020
)
0.82
[information is derived through text-mining from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]

Occurs in Manufacturing (4 Items)

ItemProcessFrequency
Candiescore-ingredient1
Confectioneriescore-ingredient1
Sweet snackscore-ingredient1
Snackscore-ingredient1

Research

Studies (1,174)

TimeframeStudies, This Drug (%)All Drugs %
pre-1990427 (36.37)18.7374
1990's161 (13.71)18.2507
2000's221 (18.82)29.6817
2010's266 (22.66)24.3611
2020's99 (8.43)2.80
[information is prepared from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]

Market Indicators

Research Demand Index: 127.15

According to the monthly volume, diversity, and competition of internet searches for this compound, as well the volume and growth of publications, there is estimated to be very strong demand-to-supply ratio for research on this compound.

MetricThis Compound (vs All)
Research Demand Index127.15 (24.57)
Research Supply Index7.18 (2.92)
Research Growth Index4.59 (4.65)
Search Engine Demand Index238.77 (26.88)
Search Engine Supply Index2.00 (0.95)

This Compound (127.15)

All Compounds (24.57)

Study Types

Publication TypeThis drug (%)All Drugs (%)
Trials17 (1.32%)5.53%
Reviews112 (8.68%)6.00%
Case Studies457 (35.40%)4.05%
Observational1 (0.08%)0.25%
Other704 (54.53%)84.16%
[information is prepared from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023]