Malabsorption Causes Nutrients Digestion, Nutrient Absorption Digestive Problem Symptoms
Malabsorption means you have a nutrient digestion or absorption impairment. This digestive problem is caused by either an infection, a missing component, i.e. enzyme, or a health condition affecting your digestive tract.
Malabsorption’s difficulty digesting or absorbing nutrients from your food causes a insufficiency of all nutrients or just a protein, fat, sugar, vitamin or mineral deficiency.
Some general digestive problem symptoms that may be caused by the various nutrients’ malabsorption are:
- bloating
- flatulence
- weight loss
- bulky stools
- abdominal pain
- muscle wasting
- chronic diarrhea
- fatigue & weakness
- abdominal distention
Specific symptoms and health conditions that can be caused by a particular nutrient malabsorption include:
- iron ~ anemia, glossitis
- folate ~ anemia, glossitis
- vitamin A ~ night blindness
- magnesium ~ muscle spasms
- vitamin B2 ~ glossitis, cheilitis
- protein ~ edema, dry skin, alopecia
- vitamin C ~ weakness, bleeding gums
- fat ~ steatorrhea (fatty, floating stools)
- vitamin D ~ bone pain, rickets, osteomalacia
- niacin ~ diarrhea, skin problems, pellagra, glossitis
- vitamin K ~ bruise easily, excessive bleeding, petechiae
- vitamin B1 ~ peripheral neuropathy, pins & needles, heart failure
- vitamin B12 ~ anemia, peripheral neuropathy, pins & needles, glossitis
- calcium ~ bone pain, fractures, osteoporosis, muscle spasms, tooth decay
Untreated nutrient digestion and absorption problems can lead to:
- anemia
- gallstones
- dehydration
- heart failure
- malnutrition
- osteoporosis
- bone disease
- kidney stones
- electrolyte imbalance
There are a myriad of health conditions that can be your cause for malabsorption, such as:
- AIDS
- G6PD
- ischemia
- dysentery
- lymphoma
- cholestasis
- amyloidosis
- tuberculosis
- scleroderma
- gastrinomas
- galactosemia
- biliary atresia
- cystic fibrosis
- IgA deficiency
- celiac disease
- phenylketonuria
- Whipple disease
- rotavirus infection
- pancreatic cancer
- chronic alcoholism
- lactose intolerance
- Tay-Sachs disease
- fructose intolerance
- diabetic neuropathy
- chronic pancreatitis
- intestinal obstruction
- irritable bowel syndrome
- digestive related surgery
- carbohydrate intolerance
- radiation treatment damage
- lymphatic system blockage
- milk, soy protein intolerance
- intestinal bacteria overgrowth
- chronic liver disease ~ cirrhosis
- glucose-galactose malabsorption
- giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, microsporidiosis parasite infections
- inflammatory bowel diseases ~ Crohn’s disease, colitis, diverticulitis
Certain medications can have an affect on nutrients digestion or absorption, like:
- laxatives
- some antacids
- tetracycline ~ antibiotic
- colchicine ~ treats gout
- phenytoin ~ prevents seizures
- acarbose ~ treats type 2 diabetes
- cholestyramine ~ treats high cholesterol
Treatment of malabsorption is based on the specific cause for the failure to digest or absorb nutrients.
- Causes for Colonic, Colon, Large Intestine Disease and Colonic Diet
- About Colonoscopy Procedure, Preparation, Diet, Risks and Virtual Colonoscopy
- Many Causes of Gastroenteritis Stomach and Intestinal Inflammation, Stomach Flu Causes
- Peptic (Stomach) Ulcer Bacteria Cause for Symptoms of Burning Pain, Bloating, Burping and Treatment
