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 Malabsorption can be described as the body’s inability to absorb certain nutrients from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This problem has become one of the leading health concerns all across the US today. There are several different types of malabsorption syndromes and the most common ones include the inability to absorb fat, proteins, vitamins and sugar. The different factors that could lead to malabsorption exceed 200 in total and so it is not always easy to pinpoint the main causative factors. Malabsorption of sugar (generally lactose or milk sugar) is probably one of the most frequent types of malabsorption. Fat malabsorption syndromes, though less common, can be a lot more serious. Fat malabsorption refers to the impairment of processing fat, which takes place mainly in the small intestines. In case you are suffering from fat malabsorption syndromes, it means that your body is not absorbing this nutrient from the foods that you eat.

Causes: The malabsorption of fat can be caused by organic or functional factors. Under normal circumstances, less than 5% of the fat you consume is present in your feces. An increase in this value may be an indication of fat malabsorption. The normal process of fat digestion can be divided into 3 stages, the pancreatic stage, the biliary stage and the cellular & delivery stage. Some of the conditions associated with the malabsorption of fats include:

At the Pancreatic Stage

• Isolated pancreatic lipase or co-lipase deficiency
• Cystic fibrosis
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Obstruction in the pancreatic duct
• Pancreatic cancer
• Resection of the pancreas
• Shwachmann – Diamond syndrome
• Johnson – Blizzard syndrome
• Pearson syndrome
  

At the Biliary Stage

• Decreased bile salt synthesis in hepatic insufficiency
• Cholestatic biliary disease or the decrease delivery of bile salts within the biliary tract
• Decrease in the concentration of conjugated bile salts because of increased acidity
• Increase in the loss of bile salts because of surgeries, diseases or certain illnesses
  

At the Cellular and Delivery stage

• Decrease in the small intestine lymphatics
• Altered duodenal pH (Zollinger – Ellison syndrome)
• Improper emulsification after certain types of gastrectomy
• Rapid transit dumping syndrome
  

Some of the other possible causes of fat malabsorption syndromes could include:

• Undergoing a gastric bypass surgery for treating morbid obesity
• Acute abnormality in the intestinal lining because of infestations, antibiotics or alcohol abuse
• Presence of a chronic abnormal intestinal lining, as a result of conditions like Crohn’s disease or Celiac disease
• Improper intestinal environments because of bacterial overgrowth or the presence of parasites in the digestive system
• Inadequate gastric mixing due to factors like a fistula in the gastric environment or after a gastrostomy
• Impaired movement of the enzymes in the body
• Intestinal lymphangiectasia
• Whipple’s Disease
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  

Most of the causes of fat malabsorption are quite serious and should be treated by a doctor immediately. Therefore, it is important for you to consult a doctor as soon as you notice any of the fat malabsorption symptoms.

Symptoms: The signs and symptoms of fat malabsorption may vary, depending upon the causes and the severity of the condition. Some of the most common fat malabsorption symptoms include:

• Absent tendon flexes
• Anemia
• Bloating and excessive gas  
• Carpopedal spasms
• Changes in the color and texture of the skin
• Cramps in the muscles
• Cutaneous bruising
• Dehydration
• Diarrhea
• Edema
• Excessive thirst
• Failure to thrive (in children)
• Fatigue
• Foul smelling stools
• Greasy, oily or bulky stools
• Itching, burning and soreness in the perianal skin
• Muscle waste and atrophy
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain in the abdomen
• Presence of undigested food in the stools
• Significant weight loss
• Weakness and lethargy
  

If fat malabsorption is left untreated, the symptoms could become more severe, as you body continues to lose water, electrolytes and other essential nutrients. Some of the fat malabsorption symptoms that should be checked right away include:

• Irregular heart rhythms
• Low or highly concentrated urine output
• Dryness in the mouth, tongue or skin
• Fissures on the corners of the mouth
  

Make sure that you speak to your doctor immediately, if you experience any of the signs and symptoms mentioned above.

Diagnosis: Your doctor may order a couple of tests to diagnose the condition accurately. Some of the tests usually conducted include:

• Abdominal CT scan

• Hydrogen breath test
• Small bowel biopsy
• Complete blood count
• Stool culture test
• X-rays of the abdomen or other imaging tests
  

These tests help your doctor determine the root cause of the problem, so that the appropriate treatment path can be adopted.

Treatment: Fat malabsorption treatment is aimed at addressing the underlying cause of the problem. Your doctor may recommend various medicines, surgical procedures or even home remedies to treat fat malabsorption. The diet you follow plays a very important role in the treatment of fat malabsorption. Your doctor will need to review your current diet and if necessary, prescribe supplements.

References

1. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000299.htm

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

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