Potential mechanisms of cachexia
| Energy imbalance |
| Increased work of breathing |
| Inefficient metabolism (fibre type conversion to type II) |
| Anorexia |
| Disuse atrophy of muscles |
| Hypoxaemia |
| Systemic inflammation |
| Tumour necrosis factor-α |
| Interleukin-1β and -6 |
| C-reactive protein |
| Reactive oxygen species |
| Hormonal insufficiency |
| Growth hormone |
| Testosterone |
| Insulin-like growth factor |
| Leptin |
| Sympathetic activation (pro-inflammatory) |
| Accelerated ageing |