Malabsorption means that your intestines have an impaired ability to absorb nutrients furnished through your diet. This digestive issue can be general or limited to certain sugars, fats, proteins or vitamins.
The degree of malabsorption does vary. And for some, vitamin and nutrient replacement may be necessary to sustain good health.
Malabsorption symptoms are contingent on the type, how long it’s left untreated and the cause of malabsorption. Generally, malabsorption symptoms may include:
- diarrhea
- weight loss
- steatorrhea
- failure to thrive
- muscle wasting
- bloating & flatulence
- abdominal distention
- frequent bulky stools
- abdominal pain & cramping
Malabsorbing food in your diet can also lead to other health conditions, such as:
- anemia
- gallstones
- malnutrition
- osteoporosis
- bone disease
- kidney stones
- vitamin deficiencies
Many health conditions can be a malabsorption cause, like:
- HIV/AIDS
- cholestasis
- celiac disease
- biliary atresia
- Crohn’s disease
- Whipple disease
- chronic pancreatitis
- chronic liver disease
- abetalipoproteinemia
- hookworm, threadworm
- strongyloides stercoralis
- Shwachman-Diamond syndrome
- acrodermatitis enteropathica (zinc)
- parasite infection ~ Giardia lamblia
- cancer ~ lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, gastrinomas
- cystic fibrosis ~ lack of pancreatic enzymes to digest food
- food intolerances ~ lactose intolerance, protein intolerance (cow’s milk, soy), fructose
Vitamin B12 malabsorption may be caused by:
- bowel resection
- pernicious anemia
- tapeworm infection
Taking certain drugs or treatments can be a malabsorption cause as well, for instance:
- tetracycline
- some antacids
- cholestyramine
- radiation treatment damage
- weight loss drugs ~ colchicine, acarbose, phenytoin
And surgical treatment for obesity can cause malabsorption too.
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