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. 1977 Jan 15;1(8003):123-5.
doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(77)91710-x.

Starvation suppression and refeeding activation of infection. An ecological necessity?

M J Murray, A B Murray

Starvation suppression and refeeding activation of infection. An ecological necessity?

M J Murray et al. Lancet. .

Abstract

The hypothesis is advanced that starvation suppresses and refeeding activates certain infections as an essential part of an ecological balance between man, his animals, and his environment. During famine, then, man fails to thrive, but his ultimate extinction is prevented in part by the parallel decline in fecundity of his "micropredators". In times of plenty the parallel increase in the same predators is a check against his excessive multiplication.

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