What is malabsorption syndrome?

The main role of your small intestine is to absorb nutrients from the food you eat into your bloodstream. Malabsorption syndrome refers to a number of disorders in which the small intestine can’t absorb enough of certain nutrients and fluids.

Nutrients that the small intestine often has trouble absorbing can be macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, and fats), micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), or both.

Causes of malabsorption syndrome

Many things can lead to malabsorption syndrome, from certain diseases to infections or birth defects.

Possible causes

• Factors that may cause malabsorption syndrome include:
• damage to the intestine from infection, inflammation, trauma, or surgery
• prolonged use of antibiotics
• other conditions such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, chronic pancreatitis, or cystic fibrosis
• lactase deficiency, or lactose intolerance
• certain defects that are congenital, or present at birth, such as biliary atresia, when the bile ducts don’t develop normally and prevent the flow of bile from the liver
• diseases of the gallbladder, liver, or pancreas
• parasitic diseases
• radiation therapy, which may injure the lining of the intestine
• certain drugs that may injure the lining of the intestine, such as tetracycline, colchicine, or cholestyramine
• The syndrome may also be caused by digestive problems. Your stomach may not be able to produce the enzymes it needs to digest certain foods. Or your body may not be able to mix the food you eat with the enzymes and acid produced by your stomach.

Rare causes

There are also some uncommon disorders that can result in malabsorption. One of these is called short bowel syndrome (SBS).With SBS, the small intestine is shortened. This makes the intestine less able to absorb nutrients. SBS may be a birth defect, or it may be caused by surgery. Certain diseases may cause malabsorption. These include tropical sprue, a condition most common in the Caribbean, India, and other parts of Southeast Asia. This disease may be related to environmental factors, such as toxins in food, infection, or parasites. An even rarer potential cause of malabsorption is Whipple’s disease, which is a result of a bacterial infection.

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With Regards,

Alex Jhon

Editorial Assistant

Journal of Fisheries Research

Email: clinicalnutrition@imedpubjournals.com