Malabsorption occurs when the body fails to absorb nutrients from food, causing symptoms such as diarrhea, weakness, and weight loss. Changes in stool appearance are often an early indicator, and chronic malabsorption can lead to multiple nutrient deficiencies and damage to body systems. Nutritional support is necessary to compensate for missing nutrients.
Symptoms of malabsorption occur when the body’s gastrointestinal system does not function normally and fails to absorb and use the nutrients it receives from food. This differs from scenarios where people do not consume enough nutritional food, but in the majority of cases, those with malabsorption eat an adequate diet. Poor absorption, which can be caused by a number of conditions, means that the body is not making proper use of the foods it receives. Minor symptoms, such as a few days of foul-smelling diarrhea and weakness, might accompany a short-lived case of malabsorption. Alternatively, the symptoms can become very severe if the condition is chronic, with nearly all body systems suffering from a lack of essential nutrients and vitamins.
One of the most prominent malabsorption symptoms is the change in the appearance of the stool, and this is often an early indicator of problems. Some people will have frequent watery diarrhea and others have indications of excessive amounts of fat in the stool, which becomes light in color and may stick to the toilet bowl or tend to float to the top of the water. Extremely large stools, when normal amounts of food are consumed, could also mean that the body is wasting, rather than using, the nutrition it receives. Changes in stool appearance are often accompanied by other intestinal symptoms such as abdominal cramps, gas and heartburn.
Many people who experience temporary stomach pain, whether from a stomach flu or mild foodborne illness, may experience a few days of malabsorption symptoms. If the condition becomes chronic, these early symptoms tend to worsen and other signs of poor nutritional absorption become apparent. Those with chronic malabsorption may notice things like unexplained weight loss. Children could be stunted or diagnosed with growth retardation.
More specific malabsorption symptoms may depend on the cause of the problem and the nutrients that are not being absorbed. Some causes mean that the gastrointestinal system fails to absorb some nutrients, but the sill absorbs others. Several areas of the body that depend on specific nutrients may be more affected when malabsorption of this type is chronic. Calcium deficiency could affect bone growth, density and strength; low protein levels create water retention, and deficiencies in iron, folic acid, or vitamin B12 can cause different forms of anemia that result in feelings of weakness or fatigue.
In many cases, the symptoms of malabsorption suggest multiple nutrient deficiencies. Anemia, bone weakness, and water retention may be present together. If these symptoms continue to be ignored, damage to multiple body systems can accumulate. In worst-case scenarios, those who are chronically deprived of nutrients can develop kidney problems or even heart failure. It is important to diagnose the cause and treat it if possible. At the same time, people affected by malabsorption need other means of nutritional support to compensate for the missing nutrients.
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