Its appearance is sometimes associated with pregnancy when cravings for more usual food items also appear. The typical, but not exclusive, victim of pica is a pregnant woman who is iron deficient. However, not all cases can be linked either to pregnancy or to iron deficiency. In one study pica disappeared within 2 weeks after the patient began iron supplementation. The cause can sometimes be traced to psychological disturbances or to cultural customs, although that is not definitive either.
Some pica is harmless, but pica can lead to nutritional deficiencies and excesses.
For example, the calorie load of one pound of cornstarch is 1,730 kilocalories. Some of the consumed substances may interfer with mineral absorption in the intestine. Some substances, such as paint chips or dirt, may contain toxic compounds. Some craved substances may form an indigestible mass that blocks the intestines and can be fatal. Commercial or private sites linked from this page are intended only to supply information.