When you eat a healthy meal, you expect your body to reap the benefits of the vitamins and minerals!
But a condition called mal-absorption syndrome means your body isn’t able to take in many of the nutrients from the food you eat. This digestive problem can lead to symptoms such as bloating and diarrhea. More importantly, mal-absorption syndrome can cause serious complications, including a higher chance of infection and bone fractures.
Typically, you absorb most of your nutrients into your bloodstream through the wall of your small intestine as partially digested food works its way through your digestive system. (You absorb the rest of your nutrients through the large intestine.)
Your blood then carries nutrients, such as calcium or protein, to your bones, muscles, and organs. You expel what’s leftover through your rectum when you go to the bathroom. Several medical conditions can interfere with that process.
Infections from bacteria, viruses, or parasites can damage your intestinal wall so that digested substances can’t get through. You then lose those nutrients through your stool when you go to the bathroom. Some of the other causes of mal-absorption include cystic fibrosis and other diseases that affect the pancreas, lactose intolerance or other enzyme-related conditions, intestinal disorders such as celiac disease (when the gluten protein from wheat, barley, and rye triggers your immune system to attack your body).
Some of these causes make more sense when you consider how they affect your digestive system. For example, a surgery that removes part of the small intestine means you have less surface area in your remaining small intestine to absorb nutrients. And celiac disease may injure the walls of your intestinal tract, making it harder for nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream.
Mal-absorption causes abdominal discomfort, including gas and bloating. Other symptoms you may have frequent diarrhea, bad-smelling and loose stool, stools that are light in color or bulky, stools that are hard to flush away because they float or stick to the toilet bowl, weight loss and scaly skin rashes.
Chronic (or ongoing) diarrhea is a common sign of mal-absorption. If your body isn’t getting the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients it needs to stay healthy and thrive, you could have serious complications. When it’s not treated, mal-absorption syndrome might lead to greater chance of infections, osteoporosis (low bone density), which increases the risk of bone fractures, and slower growth and weight gain in children.
Certain nutrients, such as vitamin A and zinc, are vital for a healthy immune system and proper growth. If your body isn’t absorbing these and other essential vitamins and minerals, your health can suffer. Children with bad stomach flu may have a higher chance of a short-term bout of mal-absorption syndrome.
You may be put on a special diet of foods that are more easily digested and absorbed. You may also be given supplements to make up for nutrients that aren’t being absorbed well.
Sometimes the cause of mal-absorption syndrome is an intestinal tract that is too active. Medicines may be prescribed to help it relax and allow more time for nutrients to enter the bloodstream.
Because mal-absorption affects a person’s abilities to get nutrients from food, it is essential that they see a doctor to get a diagnosis and treatment as quickly as possible!
Until Next Time,
Team Doctor ASKY!