Malabsorption: Causes, symptoms, and diagnosis

Malabsorption is a disorder that occurs when people are unable to absorb nutrients from their diets, such as carbohydrates, fats, minerals, proteins, or vitamins.

Some commonly known disorders related to malabsorption are lactose intolerance and celiac disease. People with a history of bowel or stomach surgery may also have malabsorption disorders.

Because malabsorption affects a person’s abilities to get nutrients from food, it is essential that they see a doctor to get a diagnosis and treatment as quickly as possible.

Share on PinterestProblems with the digestive process may cause malabsorption.

Malabsorption is the result of a disruption in at least one part of a person’s digestion.

Digestion begins when the enzymes in a person’s saliva start to break down food into smaller parts that the body can absorb.

Enzymes continue to break down the food as it travels through the esophagus, stomach, and large and small intestines before it leaves the body as waste products.

Malabsorption can occur if someone does not have enough digestive enzymes, bacteria or other foreign invaders are present, or movement in the small or large intestine is faster than usual.

There are many different malabsorption disorders, each having a different underlying cause. Doctors usually classify malabsorption disorder types by the symptoms they cause.

According to the Semmelweis University School of Medicine, these categories include:

Cardiovascular disorders

• congestive heart failure
• constrictive pericarditis
• mesenteric vascular insufficiency

Drug-induced disorders

Taking the following medications can lead to malabsorption disorders:

• cholestyramine
• colchicine
• irritant laxatives
• neomycin
• phenindione

Impaired digestion

• gastric surgery, such as gastric bypass or weight-loss surgery
• gastrinoma

Inadequate absorptive surface

• jejunoileal bypass
• short bowel syndrome

Infection

• acute infectious enteritis
• parasitic infections, such as giardia, or helminthiasis
• tropical sprue
• Whipple’s disease

Intestinal mucosa abnormalities

• amyloidosis
• Crohn’s disease
• cystinuria
• eosinophilic enteritis
• non-tropical sprue

Lymphatic obstruction

• intestinal lymphoma
• lymphangiectasia
• tuberculosis

Reduced bile salt concentration

• bacterial overgrowth from the small intestine
• ileal resection or disease
• liver disease

Some types of malabsorption syndromes do not fall under any category. These include conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, carcinoid syndrome, and mastocytosis.

Share on PinterestGas and diarrhea are potential symptoms of malabsorption.

Malabsorption symptoms vary according to the cause, the severity of the condition, and how long a person has had the disorder.

Examples of some immediate malabsorption symptoms that may occur:

• bloating and stomach distention
• diarrhea
• fatigue
• gas
• steatorrhea, or stool that is pale to white
• stools that appear “greasy” in texture
• stomach cramping
• weakness

People need nutrients from food to maintain a healthy body. When their body cannot properly absorb these nutrients, they might experience the more long-term effects of malabsorption.

These include:

• bone pain
• bones that fracture easily
• iron-deficiency anemia, which can result in shortness of breath
• muscle wasting
• a sore tongue
• weight loss

While everyone may experience some bloating, nausea, and even diarrhea from time to time, anyone who experiences a continued pattern of stomach upset should see their doctor.

People should seek immediate medical attention if they observe blood in their stool (sometimes this blood may look like dried coffee grounds) or are coughing up blood.

Signs people should make an appointment with their doctor include:

• continued abdominal bloating
• fatigue
• frequent diarrhea
• sore tongue
• weakness
• weight loss

A doctor can help evaluate a person’s symptoms and start to make a diagnosis.

To make a diagnosis of a malabsorption disorder, a doctor will ask a person about their symptoms.

They might ask about when a person first noticed the symptoms, what makes these symptoms worse or better, and what types of medical conditions a person already has.

Based on this, a doctor may recommend a variety of tests to rule out or confirm a diagnosis.

Tests include:

• Blood tests: Doctors may request full blood counts, as well as electrolyte balances. Checking protein levels in the blood may also help a doctor understand whether someone is malnourished and to what degree.
• Stool tests: A doctor may request a stool sample to test for the presence of excess fat in the stool. High levels of fat might mean that a person is not absorbing the fat their diet very well.
• Breath tests: A doctor commonly performs a breath test to check for the presence of hydrogen gas in those who may be lactose intolerant. The intestines will produce excess hydrogen gas if they cannot absorb lactose correctly.
• Imaging tests: Sometimes, a doctor may order imaging studies to check the function and structure of the digestive organs.

A doctor may also recommend an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (upper GI scope) or a colonoscopy (lower GI scope) to examine the intestinal lining and take tissue biopsies to diagnose certain conditions.

Share on PinterestA nutritionist can create a diet plan for someone with malabsorption.

Treatment options depend upon the underlying cause.

For example, doctors will treat malabsorption caused by lactose intolerance in a different way to malabsorption due to liver disease.

Initially, a doctor may recommend that a person avoids the food type that is causing the malabsorption, such as lactose or gluten-containing foods.

The doctor can evaluate the nutrients present in this food type and make recommendations on supplementation as a means of enhancing nutritional intake.

A doctor may also make recommendations for replacing missing enzymes or prescribing medications to enhance appetite. People may also choose to meet with a registered dietitian to establish a diet that is nutritious, but less likely to cause unpleasant symptoms associated with malabsorption.

A doctor will likely recommend frequent follow-up appointments to assess the effectiveness of the treatment and make new recommendations if necessary.

The complications associated with malabsorption depend upon the severity of the underlying condition.

Malabsorption can lead to weight loss, malnutrition, and even failure to thrive in many people.

A person can also experience impaired wound healing, a deficient immune system, and low energy levels.

Malabsorption syndromes can have a dramatic effect on a person’s life.

Anyone who notices their symptoms become more frequent and less occasional should see a doctor as soon as possible. This way, they can receive treatment before they experience significant unwanted weight loss and other side effects.

Is Stool Supposed To Float Or Sink?

Lucia Romero/Shutterstock

By Amanda Vining/Dec. 4, 2022 5:00 am EST

You may occasionally notice changes in your stool when you go to the bathroom, and some of those changes may have you questioning how your stool, aka your poop, is supposed to look. What color, shape, size, or consistency should it be? According to MedicalNewsToday, normal bowel movement is typically brown, but there are many factors that go into determining the appearance, texture, and even the odor of stool. Changes in stool, including whether it sinks or floats, can be the result of diet, constipation, stress, and sometimes chronic medical conditions. Each person’s stool is unique, but knowing what to be on the lookout for is key to staying on top of your health.

It can take as long as two to five days for the food you eat to leave your body as stool, per Mayo Clinic. Once you consume food, it processes through your stomach and small intestine within approximately eight hours. Then it spends another 36 hours moving through your colon. It’s essential to pass stool, but the frequency of bowel movements can vary from person to person (via Healthline). Experts have determined that most people poop between three times each day to three times per week, with about half of the population having one daily bowel movement and just over a quarter of people passing stool twice a day (per Healthline survey). While frequency is important to keep track of, paying attention to the consistency of your stool is sometimes considered to be even more important.

Diet is key

Creative Cat Studio/Shutterstock

Whether your stool sinks to the bottom of the toilet bowl or floats to the top of the water line can have a number of underlying causes, but is often attributed to diet (per eMedicineHealth). In addition to usually being brown in color, normal bowel movements often result in solid stool that floats to the bottom without sticking to the sides of the toilet. However, don’t be alarmed if your stool doesn’t sink and instead floats on the surface. Often, eating certain types of foods or experiencing an excess of gas are the reasons why stool may float. If you have a sensitivity to gluten or lactose, you may find yourself experiencing floating bowel movements after consuming foods high in fiber. Additionally, people who follow vegan, vegetarian, or plant-based diets are more prone to consuming a lot of fiber and in turn, may experience frequently floating stools. On the gassy end of things, eating foods filled with lots of insoluble fiber can cause stool to float as a result of both fiber and gas, which creates pockets of trapped air that bring a stool to the water’s surface.

Speaking of fiber and air pockets, the two go hand-in-hand, according to MIT Medical. When fiber is consumed, it produces air during the digestion process through bacterial fermentation. This means that the more fiber consumed, the more air will be produced as stool forms, thus leading to the likelihood of stool buoyancy. However, fiber isn’t always the culprit.

Odor and oil signals

Ground Picture/Shutterstock

When your stool floats, pay attention to the appearance of both the actual stool and the water surrounding it. While normal stool generally sinks and the occasional floating stool is simply a sign of eating a lot of fiber, if the floating stool is covered with an oily film or seems to be emitting a shine around it, there’s a chance that malabsorption of nutrients is the cause of stool buoyancy (via eMedicineHealth). Floating stool in the toilet bowl may be a sign that your body isn’t absorbing nutrients properly, and in this case, you should schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider to determine which vital nutrients aren’t being absorbed.

Mount Sinai elaborates on floating stool caused by malabsorption of nutrients by emphasizing that the odor of stool can be another indicator of nutrient deficiency. If your floating bowel movements are particularly foul in smell, malabsorption may be the reason your stool isn’t sinking. The likelihood of malabsorption is increased when a person is in the process of losing weight. And while weight loss can increase the likelihood of malabsorption, floating stool typically isn’t caused by an increased presence of fat leaving the body. When stool buoyancy is the result of increased fat, it is usually a side effect of a more serious health condition, like chronic pancreatitis, which may also lead to floating stool in the form of diarrhea, per Johns Hopkins Medicine. If you suspect something more serious, always consult your doctor.

Recommended

10 strange facts about the Thonet chair — INMYROOM

Guide

Find out who and why threw the Viennese chair off the Eiffel Tower, why Dali and Picasso loved it, and what does IKEA have to do with it

The well-known Viennese chair is hidden under the name Thonet. Until the 20th century, it could be found everywhere: in public institutions,
cafes, restaurants, in aristocratic houses and communal apartments. And now the Thonet chair appears not only in the living rooms of our grandmothers, but also in modern design projects. We share the most unexpected facts about him.

Viennese chair – long-lived in the world of design

More
150 years ago, German cabinetmaker Michael Thonet designed a chair that
which successfully combined convenience, low price and noble appearance. New
the piece of furniture turned out so perfect that throughout the whole time
it was produced unchanged, and its production did not stop for a single
minute.

The Viennese Chair was thrown off the Eiffel Tower

And this was done by none other than its creator. Michael
Thonet originally demonstrated the strength of his offspring – one
with a pitiless movement, the Viennese chair was sent into free flight from the Eiffel Tower. And yes he
remained intact!

Viennese chair not entirely from Vienna

Chair
Toneta No. 14, which made Vienna famous as the capital of twisted wood furniture, is actually
in fact, it was designed and created in a factory in Moravia, where Michael Thonet went
in search of raw materials and labor.

Thonet chair – the prototype of IKEA furniture

First time
metal screws were used to fasten the parts of the chair, which
allowed to assemble and disassemble furniture. Drowning did not want to transport air,
therefore, he managed to fit 36 ​​unassembled chairs in a pack of 1 m ³ .

The Thonet chair was teased

For sure
remember a poem from childhood: “Strongman Bambula lifted two Viennese chairs.”
What does it mean? Indeed, before the revolution there was such a person – a circus
artist, comedian. “What’s with the chairs?” – you ask. But the fact is that this is a teasing rhyme, a mockery of weakness: after all, the Viennese chair was specially designed to be light, it would not be difficult to lift it.

The Viennese chair has a soothing counterpart

Rocking chair,
actually also designed and produced at Thonet’s factory. This
the younger brother of the Viennese chair, created using the same technology, but with several
years later.

Thonet is not a chair, it is Chanel

The Thonet chair is a cult, timeless thing that never loses its relevance. That’s why
It is no coincidence that the Viennese chair is called Chanel No. 5 of the furniture world.

Sports equipment was produced at the Thonet factory

Initially, the wood bending technique was used to create household items: barrels, boats. A company
Thonet with its technology has covered not only the furniture world, but also other areas
life: produced tennis rackets, skis, children’s toys.

Viennese chair – the most popular novelty of design

Paradoxically,
that the Michael Thonet chair was first adopted by the middle class: model no. 14
bought in apartments, shops and cafes. Then they became interested in the Viennese chair
government offices, and lastly he settled in
aristocratic and royal houses.

Viennese chair easy to find in works of art

Chair
Thonet in the 19th–20th centuries could be found everywhere, it became a familiar thing,
which is indispensable. It is thanks to its popularity and convenience that model No. 14 has penetrated into works of art: the Viennese chair is easy to find in the paintings.
Picasso, Dali, Toulouse-Lautrec, Kustodiev, Repin; and in films with Charlie Chaplin, he
even gets into fights.

INMYROOM selection: Viennese chairs

Sold

Thonet chair

Dimensions:

Width

42 cm

Height

92 cm

Depth

44 cm

Sold

Viennese chair

Dimensions:

Width

84 cm

Height

40 cm

Depth

57 cm

Viennese chair. Brothers Thonet. Detailed description of the exhibit, audio guide, interesting facts. Artefact 9 Official Site0001

#1

chair.jpg

Viennese chair. Brothers Thonet

#12

The Viennese chair was designed by the German furniture maker Michael Thonet around 1850. It was the first piece of furniture that began to be produced in factory quantities in the second half of the 19th century. For the chairs, mostly beech wood was used. Specially prepared parts of the chair were treated with steam and given them the necessary bent shape. The idea of ​​such chairs came to Thonet after moving to Vienna, hence the name.

In 1851, at the World Exhibition in London, Michael Thonet received a bronze medal for innovation in the production of furniture. In 1853, he created his own company, which he registered with his five sons, and gave it the name “Thonet Brothers”. In 1878, the Viennese chairs of this company were awarded a gold medal at the Paris World Exhibition.

Michael Thonet’s idea was revolutionary in the furniture business to deliver the ordered chairs not assembled, but in sets that can be assembled on site. This greatly facilitated transportation. Sets of chairs – 36 pieces each – were sent in boxes. They were usually ordered to houses, palaces and offices.

#8

Thonet.jpg

Michael Thonet with his sons

#10

15.jpeg

Manufacture of Viennese chairs

9000 4 #4

Viennese furniture gained popularity, it was ordered to America, Asian and European countries . At the beginning of the 20th century, there were already about 1,200 models in the catalogs of the Brothers Thonet company, and two million items were manufactured at the factory a year.

#5

18.jpg

The second chair from the left in the top row is #14

#14

In 1889 the Thonet Brothers began supplying Viennese chairs and armchairs for the Imperial Court. Furniture was ordered and bought for country residences; it adorned the balconies and verandas of summer palaces. In the 1890s, the company opened two factories in the Russian Empire (in Revel and Novo-Radomsk) – today this territory belongs to Estonia and Poland. Fully workshops and factories “Tonet” ceased to exist only during the revolution of 1917.