Nutritional malabsorption can be caused by genetic disorders, medical therapies or medication or supplement interactions. Malabsorption can put you at risk for being deficient in a number of essential vitamins and minerals, lowering the quality of your health or causing a number of minor and serious medical problems. If you are concerned that you are deficient in any essential nutrient, talk with your medical professional about testing nutrient levels and possible medications to help with nutrient absorption.
Celiac Disease
Those who have Celiac Disease are at risk for nutritional malabsorption. The disease causes the body to produce antibodies any time you eat foods with gluten in them. These antibodies attack the villi, which line the small intestine and absorb nutrients. Damaged villi cannot effectively absorb nutrients, causing the person to become nutritionally deficient. The disease can begin at any stage of life, and symptoms range from common constipation to diarrhea to abdominal pain, making quick, accurate diagnosis difficult. Over time, however, symptoms of nutrient deficiency, such as depression, nosebleeds, mouth ulcers or seizures, can point to Celiac disease. No cure for Celiac disease is known; a gluten-free diet can heal and maintain health of the villi, allowing for normal nutritional absorption. You may also be prescribed nutritional supplements until your nutrient levels return to a normal range for health.
Hypochlorhydia
Up to one-third of elderly individuals suffer from hypochlorhydria, a condition which causes low gastic acid secretion in the stomach, leading to a high pH in the stomach. A lack of gastric acids results in less production of amylase enzymes, which help break down nutrients into simple chemical structures that can be absorbed in the small intestine. Calcium absorption, according to researchers at the University of Michigan Medical School, is reduced by hypochlorydia, leaving elderly persons vulnerable to lower levels of calcium mineralization, and therefore, weaker bones and a risk of osteoporosis.
Medications
Certain medications can interfere with nutrient absorption by either lowering an individual's production of gastric acids or by interacting negatively with other medications or supplements. Proton pump inhibitors are used to treat a variety of gastrointestinal disorders by reducing stomach acid. They are found in prescription medications as well as over the counter medications, such as heartburn relief medications. Other medications can interfere with your body's ability to absorb specific nutrients, as well. For example, levels of vitamin D absorption can be negatively affected by anti-seizure medications, mineral oil or the prolonged use of antacids, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Liver Disease
Liver disease can lead to steatorrhea, a condition in which the body excretes excess amounts of fats and lipids in feces. This indicates that fats from the diet have not been properly digested, leaving you at risk of nutritional malabsorption of fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E and K. When not used, fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the liver and fatty tissues for use by the body as they are needed. An unhealthy liver is not able to store these vitamins.
Supplements
Nutritional malabsorption can be managed in the majority of cases with medical supervision, specialized diets and possible nutrient supplementation. Check with your doctor before adding supplements to your diet to avoid possible drug interactions or toxicity. The prolonged consumption of high levels of some nutrients can cause health problems, so be aware of tolerable upper limit recommendations from the FDA to reduce the risk of adverse health effects from vitamin or mineral toxicity.
References
- PubMed Health: Celiac Disease; January 2010
- "Nature Medicine": Stomaching Calcium for Bone Health; Brendan F. Boyce; June 2009
- VHA Pharmacy Benefits Management Strategic Healthcare Group and the Medical Advisory Panel: Abbreviated Drug Class Review: Proton Pump Inhibitors; August 2006
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin D; June 2010
- "Canadian Medical Association Journal": Steatorrhea in Patients With Liver Disease; C.N. Williams, et al; December 1971
- Colorado State University Extension: Fat-Soluble Vitamins; J. Anderson, et al; August 2008
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