The Symptoms of Intestinal Malabsorption
In malabsorption, some abdominal pain is common and constant. People with
malabsorption experience a little cramping before a bowel movement. Bloating and
flatus will occur particularly in those patients with intestinal mucosa cell
lesions. The bacterial flora sours the non absorbed carbohydrates of food,
producing gases, the origin of bloating and flatus. If the malabsorption is not
severe and the appetite sufficient, a higher food intake may compensate in part
for the lower absorption. Malabsorption in one of the few conditions in which
weight loss can occur despite hyperphagia (abundant food intake). Some people
with malabsorption present diarrhea. Diarrhea in toddlers and children should
focus attention on the condition of their intestin. As far as intestinal
malabsorption is concerned, the main problem is the diagnosis. Malabsorption is
dramatically under diagnosed. For more information Return to Articles menu
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The Consequences of Intestinal Malabsorption
Larger than normal stool mass, abdominal pain, bloating and flatus are the
first symptoms of malabsorption. Should malabsorption endure, other symptoms
will develop, related to the gravity and the duration of the various
deficiencies caused by malabsorption of food and of vitamins and minerals.
Examples Here are a few examples of the health conditions triggered by the
various deficiencies that may result from malabsorption; Iron deficiency causes
anemia in up to 20% of patients with malabsorption. Iron deficiency results in
anemia by reducing the supply of hemoglobin, the oxygen transporting pigment of
our red blood cells. Zinc deficiency deprives you amid other things from your
taste by blocking the synthesis of specific components in the taste cells. Since
malabsorption reduces the supply of foliates the resulting foliate deficiency
will cause abnormal growth of the red blood cells. During their maturation some
of the cells will become macrocytic Vitamin B12 will also be less absorbed.
Vitamin B12 deficiency occurs late, where it may take up to 5 years to deplete
the body store of vitamin B12. It should be noted that vitamin B12 is the only
vitamin where body store of it can last that long. In malabsorption, the lesions
from the mucosa cells of the intestine may be associated with protein leakage.
As a result of protein deprivation, Edema from the lower extremities may follow.
Because of malabsorption of calcium and resulting calcium deficiency in bones,
bone pain, osteoporosis, bone fragility and spontaneous fracture may occur.
Calcium is absorbed throughout the length of the small intestine, but like iron
and foliate, more avidly in the proximal section, the most damaged part of the
intestine in malabsorption. Other factors than calcium may be involved in bone
lesions caused by malabsorption, as a boron deficiency caused by the same
malabsorption of minerals.
develops in patients with years of relatively mild malabsorption. In fat
malabsorption, fatty acids remain in the intestin. Calcium, as a divalent
cation, combines with fatty acids to form insoluble soaps. Vitamin B group
deficiency alters the function of the cells in the nervous system, causing
osteomalasia, peripheral neuropathy . Vitamin A deficiency induces xerophtalmia
and impairs the biochemistry in cells of the retina causing night blindness. |
