Home > Diseases and Conditions > Malabsorption
Printer friendly viewPrint
Bookmark and Share

PubMed Health. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. Atlanta (GA): A.D.A.M.; 2011.

A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia.

Malabsorption

Last reviewed: July 7, 2010.

Malabsorption is difficulty absorbing nutrients from food.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Many diseases can cause malabsorption. Malabsorption is usually the inability to absorb certain sugars, fats, proteins, or vitamins from food. It can also involve a general malabsorption of food.

Some of the causes of malabsorption include:

Vitamin B12 malabsorption may be due to:

Symptoms

  • Bloating, cramping, and gas

  • Bulky stools

  • Chronic diarrhea (may not occur with vitamin malabsorption)

  • Failure to thrive

  • Fatty stools (steatorrhea)

  • Muscle wasting

  • Weight loss

Malabsorption can affect growth and development, or it can lead to specific illnesses.

Signs and tests

Treatment

Vitamin and nutrient replacement is often necessary.

Expectations (prognosis)

The outlook depends on the condition causing malabsorption.

Complications

Long-term malabsorption can result in:

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you notice symptoms of malabsorption.

Prevention

Preventive methods depend on the condition causing malabsorption.

References

  1. Semrad CE, Powell DW. Approach to the patient with diarrhea and malabsorption. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 143.

Review Date: 7/7/2010.

Reviewed by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only — they do not constitute endorsementscof those other sites. © 1997–2011 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Copyright © 2012, A.D.A.M., Inc.

What works?

  • Lactose intolerance Lactose intolerance
    A bloated belly, “wind”, stomach ache and diarrhoea: not being able to digest dairy (milk) products properly can cause great discomfort – and a lot of inconvenience, too. Up to 1 in 5 adults, teenagers and children in northern Europe are affected by symptoms like these. They are often thought to be caused by lactose intolerance, but that might not always be true. Some people who are over-sensitive to milk might actually have another problem. It is important to get the diagnosis right before deciding to make major changes to your diet, especially in children, teenagers and people who need more calcium.
See all (6)...

Figures

  • Digestive system.
    Cystic fibrosis.
    Digestive system organs.

Learn about...

  • Making smart health choices Making smart health choices
    Develop the skills to assess health advice and make better-informed decisions about your health and managing illness.

Drug of interest

  • Levothyroxine
    Levothyroxine, a thyroid hormone, is used to treat hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Without this hormone, the body cannot function properly, resulting in: poor growth; slow speech; lack of energy; weight gain; hair loss; dry, thick skin; and increased sensitivity to cold. When taken correctly, levothyroxine reverses these symptoms. Levothyroxine is also used to treat congenital hypothyroidism (cretinism) and goiter (enlarged thyroid gland). This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Read More

MedlinePlus.gov links to free, reliable, up-to-date health information from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other trusted health organizations.

Recent activity

Clear Turn Off Turn On

Your browsing activity is empty.

Activity recording is turned off.

Turn recording back on

See more...
You are here: NCBI > Literature > PubMed Health
Write to the Help Desk