Malabsorption

//Western Diagnosis// impaired absorption of nutrients from the SI

Etiology
1. food allergy 2. insufficient digestive agents: HCl, bile salts, pancreatic enzymes 3. bacterial overgrowth 4. celiac disease 5. Crohn’s disease

Signs & Symptoms
1. weight loss, malaise 2. flatulence, abd distention, bloating 3. carpopedal spasms: Ca deficiency 4. bruising 5. diarrhea, steatorrhea: pale, bulky, soft, sticky, malodorous stools 6. anemia 7. glossitis: B vit. deficiencies 8. CHO intolerance - lactase deficiency a. inability to digest lactose b. 75% of all adults of all ethnicities - 20% of adults of NW European origin c. bloating, flatulence, N, D, cramps after ingestion of dairy products 9. Celiac disease a. gluten sensitive enteropathy - intolerance to gluten, creating malabsorption b. same sx as above only after eating gluten containing foods (wheat, barley, oats, rye, spelt, kamut)

Diagnosis
1. clinical: weight loss, D, anemia 2. fecal fat 3. comprehensive stool examination 4. d-xylose absorption 5. lactose absorption 6. SI biopsy

Treatment
1. remove offending substance 2. HCl 3. pancreatic enzymes 4. multiple vitamin and mineral supplementation 5. beta carotene, bioflavonoids (hesperidin, quercetin) 6. Vitamin A & Zinc to help lining 7. Carrot juice (2 quarts/day), mixed carotinoids