Malabsorption Health Dictionary

Impaired absorption of nutrients by the lining of the small intestine. Malabsorption may be caused by many conditions, including lactase deficiency, cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis, coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease, amyloidosis, giardiasis, Whipple’s disease, and lymphoma. The removal of some of the small intestine, and certain operations on the stomach, may also result in malabsorption.

Common symptoms are diarrhoea and weight loss; and in severe cases, there may also be malnutrition (see nutritional disorders), vitamin deficiency, mineral deficiency, or anaemia. Diagnosis may be made by tests on faeces, blood tests, barium X-ray examination and jejunal biopsy. In most cases, dietary modifications or supplements are successful in treating the disorder. In severe cases, intravenous infusion of nutrients is needed (see feeding, artificial).

Improper utilization of needed and available nutrients, either from impaired digestive function (such as B12 being unabsorbed because of gastritis), impaired absorption (poor Vitamin E absorption because of an inflamed ileum) or impaired transport (the diminished blood proteins of the advanced alcoholic). There are other causes as well, but you get the idea.

n. reduced or defective absorption of various nutrients in the small bowel. It commonly affects the absorption of fatty acids (causing *steatorrhoea, *bloating, and *flatulence), fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K), water-soluble vitamins (B12 and folate), *electrolytes (such as calcium and potassium), iron, and amino acids. Symptoms include weight loss, diarrhoea, failure to thrive, weakness and lethargy (due to *anaemia), *paraesthesia, swelling (oedema), and a propensity to bleeding. The commonest causes are *coeliac disease, *Crohn’s disease, *pancreatitis, *cystic fibrosis, *blind loop syndrome, chronic infection (e.g. giardiasis), and previous surgery.