The digestion process begins with the mechanical breakdown of food in your mouth and ends with the excretion of indigestible material as feces. A complex interplay of salivary and pancreatic enzymes, stomach acid, bile salts and gastrointestinal mixing reduces your food to usable nutrients that can be absorbed into your bloodstream. A number of conditions can interfere with this process and lead to abdominal discomfort, flatulence, poor absorption and intolerance of specific foods.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome affects 10 to 15 percent of the American population, according to the December 2005 "American Family Physician." Symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain and discomfort, altered bowel habits, bloating and intolerance to specific foods, such as wheat or dairy. These symptoms overlap those of other disorders, such as celiac disease and lactose intolerance, so a diagnosis of IBS is usually only made after other conditions have been ruled out. Treatment involves avoidance of specific foods that trigger symptoms, increasing dietary fiber, psychotherapy and medications.
Pancreatic and Biliary Insufficiency
Your pancreas produces an array of enzymes that facilitate food digestion. Lipases, amylases and proteases help break down fats, carbohydrates and proteins, respectively. Bile from your liver helps emulsify fats so they can be more readily digested. Pancreatic or liver disease can interfere with the production of enzymes or bile, leading to bloating, abdominal discomfort and food intolerance. Some people develop these troubles after their gallbladders have been removed. Avoidance of dietary triggers and taking supplemental digestive enzymes or bile acids may alleviate your symptoms, but people with known pancreatic or liver problems should consult their physicians before using supplements.
Celiac Disease
The American Gastroenterological Association reports that approximately 1 percent of Americans suffer from celiac disease, or gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Celiac disease is characterized by an exaggerated immune response to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and similar grains. The condition is manifested by malabsorption, bloating, abdominal discomfort and food intolerance. Celiac disease may occur with other autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis or Sjögren's syndrome. Treatment involves strict avoidance of dietary gluten, which is sometimes difficult because of the widespread use of gluten in the food supply.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance affects more than 75 percent of people worldwide, but only 15 to 20 percent of individuals of northern European descent are affected, states "The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy." Lactose intolerance is caused by the absence of an enzyme, lactase, in your intestines. Lactase digests lactose, the sugar in milk. People with lactose intolerance complain of intolerance of dairy products, bloating, gas, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Treatment involves avoidance of milk products or taking supplemental lactase.
Considerations
Symptoms of impaired digestion can arise from a variety of causes. Some of them can lead to malabsorption and malnutrition, and some create symptoms in other parts of your body. If you have trouble digesting food, keep a diary of the foods that trigger your symptoms, and avoid those foods whenever possible. If your symptoms persist, consult a medical professional.
References
- American Family Physician; Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome; S.K. Hadley, S.M. Gaarder; December 2005
- Gastroenterology; American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute Technical Review on the Diagnosis and Management of Celiac Disease; A. Rostom, et al.; November 2006
- "The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 18th Edition: Carbohydrate Intolerance"; Mark H. Beers, M.D., Editor-in-Chief; 2006
