MAL-ABSORPTION SYNDROME
Mal-absorption syndrome occurs when the bowel is prevented from absorbing important nutrients and fluids, including proteins, fats and vitamins.
AETIOLOGY
The main role of the intestine is to absorb nutrients from food into the blood stream.
Mal-absorption syndrome therefore, refers to a number of disorders in which the small intestine cannot absorb enough of certain nutrients and fluids. E.g; macro and micro nutrients.
Factors that may cause mal-absorption syndrome include;
1. Damage to the intestine from infection, inflammation, trauma, or surgery.
2. Prolonged use of antibiotics
3. Other conditions, such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, chronic pancreatitis or cystic fibrosis.
4. Lactase deficiency, or lactose intolerance
5. Certain defects that are congenital (present at birth), such as biliary atresia (i.e, when the bile ducts don’t develop normally and prevent the flow of bile from the liver).
6. Diseases of the gallbladder, liver or pancreas
7. Parasitic diseases
8. Radiation therapy, which may injure the lining of the intestine.
9. Certain drugs that may injure the lining of the intestine, such as tetracycline, colchicine, or cholestyramine.
10. Digestive problems (due to inability of stomach to produce enzymes for digestion).
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
1. Light coloured, floating stools
2. Dry hair or hair loss
3. Oedema (fluid retention)
4. Bloating or explosive diarrhoea
5. Anaemia, malnutrition.
6. Weight loss, muscle wasting
DIETARY GUIDELINES
The rationale for diet in mal-absorption syndrome is to help decrease rate of intestinal emptying and to improve nutritional status. Adequate nutrition can be achieved by:
1. Eating small, frequent meals.
2. Limiting intake of high fat foods (e.g, fried foods, and high fat meats)
3. Limiting high fibre foods.
4. Limiting dairy products
5. Limiting intake of concentrated sweets and confectionaries; soda, sugar and sweet desserts.
6. Drinking enough liquids in-between meals.
Successful management is to identify the under lining defect and implement specific therapy to correct it.
Mal-absorption syndrome occurs when the bowel is prevented from absorbing important nutrients and fluids, including proteins, fats and vitamins.
AETIOLOGY
The main role of the intestine is to absorb nutrients from food into the blood stream.
Mal-absorption syndrome therefore, refers to a number of disorders in which the small intestine cannot absorb enough of certain nutrients and fluids. E.g; macro and micro nutrients.
Factors that may cause mal-absorption syndrome include;
1. Damage to the intestine from infection, inflammation, trauma, or surgery.
2. Prolonged use of antibiotics
3. Other conditions, such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, chronic pancreatitis or cystic fibrosis.
4. Lactase deficiency, or lactose intolerance
5. Certain defects that are congenital (present at birth), such as biliary atresia (i.e, when the bile ducts don’t develop normally and prevent the flow of bile from the liver).
6. Diseases of the gallbladder, liver or pancreas
7. Parasitic diseases
8. Radiation therapy, which may injure the lining of the intestine.
9. Certain drugs that may injure the lining of the intestine, such as tetracycline, colchicine, or cholestyramine.
10. Digestive problems (due to inability of stomach to produce enzymes for digestion).
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
1. Light coloured, floating stools
2. Dry hair or hair loss
3. Oedema (fluid retention)
4. Bloating or explosive diarrhoea
5. Anaemia, malnutrition.
6. Weight loss, muscle wasting
DIETARY GUIDELINES
The rationale for diet in mal-absorption syndrome is to help decrease rate of intestinal emptying and to improve nutritional status. Adequate nutrition can be achieved by:
1. Eating small, frequent meals.
2. Limiting intake of high fat foods (e.g, fried foods, and high fat meats)
3. Limiting high fibre foods.
4. Limiting dairy products
5. Limiting intake of concentrated sweets and confectionaries; soda, sugar and sweet desserts.
6. Drinking enough liquids in-between meals.
Successful management is to identify the under lining defect and implement specific therapy to correct it.
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