Your small intestine is where you absorb all your vitamins. A blockage or obstruction between your organs and your small intestine will prevent vitamins from being absorbed. If your small intestine is not producing digestive enzymes to break down the food you eat then nutrients will not be absorbed. A damaged mucous membrane, or mucosa in your small intestine will not allow absorption of vitamins into your bloodstream. Genetics, radiation exposure, disease and infection or stomach surgeries can cause malabsorption of vitamins and other nutrients.
Genetics
Lactose intolerance is a prime example of a genetic condition of a digestive disorder. What happens is that the small intestine does not make the digestive enzyme lactase to digest the lactose in milk and milk products and causes malabsorption. Milk and milk products are an important food group that provides protein, calcium, vitamin D, magnesium and other essential vitamins and nutrients. It would be harmful to your to completely eliminate milk and milk products from your diet because they contain such important nutrients for your health. If you are lactose intolerant try fermented milk and milk products such as yogurt, cheese, cultured milk, Lactaid milk, fortified soy milk, or talk to a registered dietitian about lactase tablets.
Duct Blockage
You have two important accessory organs, the liver and the pancreas. If your organs are working properly but the pancreatic and bile secretions cannot get to your small intestine this is known as a bile duct blockage or a pancreatic obstruction. Another case is when the ducts are working properly but the glandular cells glands may be damaged and unable to continue normal pancreatic or bile secretions. Inflammation of the pancreas, or pancreatitis and cirrhosis of the liver are examples of duct blockages. This causes a malabsorption of water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins.
Infection, Disease, Exposure and Surgeries
The small intestine has a mucous membrane called the mucosa. This membrane has small finger-like projections called villi that increase the surface area to grab hold of the nutrients to absorb them into your blood stream. Absorption of water-soluble or fat-soluble vitamins will not occur if your mucosa is damaged or cannot function. Some of the causes of mucosa damage outlined by the Mayo Clinic are radiation exposure from cancer treatments. Celiac disease, liver disease, Crohn's disease can damage the mucosa. Infections from parasites or AIDS can also damage the mucosa. If you fall into any of these categories, discuss the possibility of malabsorption with your doctor.
Long-Term Malabsorption
Malabsorption can eventually deplete your nutrients and cause deficiency diseases. Bone pain, weak bones, and muscle spasms are symptoms of a calcium, magnesium and vitamin D deficiency. Extreme fatigue and weakness are symptoms of a deficiency in iron, folic acid and vitamin B12. Chronic diarrhea and skin problems are symptoms of a niacin deficiency. General swelling of the arms and legs can be a sign of a protein deficiency. Nigh blindness is a vitamin A deficiency. Tingling sensations in your hands and feet or cracks at the edge of the mouth are signs of B-vitamin deficiency. Bleeding of the gums can be caused by a vitamin C deficiency. Excessive bruising or bleeding problems is a sign of a vitamin K deficiency. Signs and symptoms of nutrient deficiencies are published in the Merck Manual online Medical Library.
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