Malabsorption is the body’s inability to digest or absorb necessary nutrients. Fat is a common nutrient that the body may have difficulty absorbing. Signs of fat malabsorption include diarrhea, floating fecal matter, greasy stools, cramping, weight loss or excessive fatigue. Exercise can hinder your body’s ability to digest and absorb fat.
Fat Metabolism
The body metabolizes carbohydrates, proteins and fats for energy. Carbohydrates are digested and absorbed into the body relatively quickly. However, fats and proteins usually take between five to seven hours to digest and absorb in the body, according to the Alabama Cooperative Extension. Additionally, the quantity of food you consume can dictate the rate of absorption. Large quantities of food digest significantly slower than small quantities. Thus, the type of food and the quantity of food you consume can impact your athletic performance.
Blood Flow
Fat ingestion, as well as the ingestion of proteins and carbohydrates, causes increased blood flow to the stomach and intestines. This surplus blood flow assists in the digestion and absorption of fat. When you engage in exercise, your body redirects a large quantity of blood to the skin for temperature regulation and to the working muscle groups. During exercise, your gastrointestinal tract may not receive enough blood for digesting and absorbing the fat you previously consumed. Thus, fat malabsorption may occur if you engage in exercise prior to fat digestion and absorption. For optimal athletic and physiological performance, it is beneficial to participate in exercise when the absorptive process is complete.
Medical Conditions
Some medical conditions, like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, can cause poor digestion of fat and fat malabsorption. Essential fatty acid deficiencies may often develop among individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases due to their inability to digest these fats. Treatment recommendations often include limiting fat intake, which may lead to weight loss. Intense exercise may cause fatigue and muscle weakness. However, some doctors recommend increasing fat intake among individuals who can digest up to 3 tablespoons of fat per day. The excess fat intake may cause weight gain, prompting a recommendation for daily aerobic exercise.
Other Considerations
Performance anxiety and nervousness experienced prior to an athletic competition or exercise event can prevent fat digestion and cause fat malabsorption, according to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Additionally, emotional and physical stress, such as a state of starvation or vigorous exercise over a sustained period of time, increases the metabolism of fat and may significantly decrease fat absorption. Essential vitamins, such as vitamins A, D and E, need fat to be absorbed by the body. A lack of fat absorption may lead to deficiencies of certain fat-soluble vitamins.
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