Malabsorption
Malabsorption means the inability to absorb nutrients from food. This is usually associated with a gastrointestinal disorder or systemic disease. Long-term malabsorption can lead to anemia, stones (kidney and gallbladder), osteoporosis, osteopenia, vitamin deficiencies, malnutrition, etc.
Causes and risk factors
Common causes and risk factors associated with malabsorption are:
Infectious diseases or conditions:
- Whipple's disease
- Intestinal tuberculosis
- Bacterial overgrowth
- Giardia lamblia
- Fish tape worm (B12 malabsorption)
- Roundworm
- Hookworm
- AIDS and HIV
Post surgery anatomy change:
- Blind loops
- Gastrectomy
- Bypass surgery
- Short bowel syndrome
Gastrointestinal disorders:
- Crohn's Disease
- Eosinophilic gastroenteropathy
- Celiac disease
- Amyloidosis
- Cystic fibrosis
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Carcinoma of pancreas
- Biliary atresia
- Primary bile acid diarrhea
- Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
- Milk intolerance
- Fructose intolerance
- Lactose intolerance
- Sucrose intolerance
- Abeta-lipoproteinaemia
Systemic diseases:
- Hypothyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism
- Addison's disease
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Systemic sclerosis
- Carcinoid syndrome
Medications:
- Cholestyramine
- Tetracycline
- PPI
- Colchicine
- Laxatives
Others:
- Radiation enteritis
Symptoms and signs:
- Diarrhea
- Fatty stools (steatorrhea)
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Bloating
- Failure to thrive
- Malnutrition
- Growth retardation
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis of malobsorption is usually based on symptoms, patient's underlying medical problems, risk factors, clinical suspicion, and one or more of the following tests:
- Blood works
- Stool studies
- X-ray
- CT scan
- Endoscopy
After malabsorption is confirmed, treatment will focus on the underlying cause and management of complications. A nutritionist or dietitian may help to balance your nutrition.
References:
- PubMed Health.
- Wikipedia.
- Mayo clinic online health information.
- Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease- by Mark Feldman MD, et al.
- The Little Black Book of Gastroenterology-by David W. Hay.
- Principles of Clinical Gastroenterology by Tadataka Yamada, et al.