Malabsorption

Question 1

Define malabsorption.

Answer 1

The failure to fully absorb nutrients either because of the destruction to epithelium or due to a problem in the lumen meaning food cannot be digested

Question 2

What 4 disorders of the SI can cause malabsorption?

Answer 2

1. Coeliac disease
2. Tropical Sprue
3. Crohn’s Disease
4. Parasite infection

Question 3

Give 5 broad causes of malabsorption.

Answer 3

1. Defective intra-luminal digestion.
2. Insufficient absorptive area.
3. Lack of digestive enzymes.
4. Defective epithelial transport.
5. Lymphatic obstruction.

Question 4

Malabsorption: what can cause defective intra-luminal digestion?

Answer 4

1. Pancreatic insufficiency due to pancreatitis, CF. There is a lack of digestive enzymes.
2. Defective bile secretion due to biliary obstruction or ileal resection.
3. Bacterial overgrowth.

Question 5

Why can pancreatitis cause malabsorption?

Answer 5

Pancreatitis results in pancreatic insufficiency and so a lack of pancreatic digestive enzymes. There is defective intra-luminal digestion which leads to malabsorption.

Question 6

Malabsorption: what can cause insufficient absorptive area?

Answer 6

1. Coeliac disease.
2. Crohn’s disease.
3. Extensive parasitisation - Giardia lamblia
4. Small intestine resection.

Question 7

Malabsorption: give an example of when there is a lack of digestive enzymes.

Answer 7

Lactose intolerance - disaccharide enzyme deficiency.

Question 8

Malabsorption: what can cause lymphatic obstruction?

Answer 8

1. Lymphoma.
2. TB.

Question 9

Summarise the different conditions causing bowel malabsorption abnormalities.

Answer 9