gastrointestinal disorders
Overview of Malabsorption
Symptoms and Signs of Malabsorption
The effects of unabsorbed substances, especially in global malabsorption, include diarrhea, steatorrhea, abdominal bloating, and gas. Other symptoms result from nutritional deficiencies. Patients often lose weight despite adequate food intake. Chronic diarrhea is the most common symptom and is what usually prompts evaluation of the patient. Steatorrhea—fatty stool, the hallmark of malabsorption—occurs when>7 g/day of fat are excreted. Steatorrhea causes foul-smelling, pale, bulky, and greasy stools. ). Vitamin B12 Deficiency may occur in blind loop syndrome or after extensive resection of the distal ileum or stomach. Amenorrhea may result from undernutrition and is an important manifestation of celiac disease in young women. 