Malabsorption Syndromes

Summary

Your small intestine does most of the digesting of the foods you eat. If you have a malabsorption syndrome, your small intestine cannot absorb nutrients from foods.

Causes of malabsorption syndromes include:

• Celiac disease
• Lactose intolerance
• Short bowel syndrome. This happens after surgery to remove half or more of the small intestine. You might need the surgery if you have a problem with the small intestine from a disease, injury, or birth defect.
• Whipple disease, a rare bacterial infection
• Genetic diseases
• Certain medicines

Symptoms of different malabsorption syndromes can vary. They often include chronic diarrhea, abnormal stools, weight loss, and gas. Your doctor may use lab, imaging, or other tests to make a diagnosis.

Treatment of malabsorption syndromes depends on the cause.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Genetics

• Abetalipoproteinemia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Glucose-galactose malabsorption: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Hereditary folate malabsorption: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Lactose intolerance: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Related Issues

• Alagille Syndrome National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Find an Expert

• American College of Gastroenterology American College of Gastroenterology
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Specifics

• Bassen-Kornzweig syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
• Intestinal Lymphangiectasia Merck & Co., Inc.
• Short Bowel Syndrome National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Tropical sprue Medical Encyclopedia
• Whipple’s Disease National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Malabsorption Syndromes National Institutes of Health

Patient Handouts

• D-xylose absorption Medical Encyclopedia
• Fecal fat Medical Encyclopedia
• Lower GI Series National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Malabsorption Medical Encyclopedia
• Short bowel syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
• Small bowel bacterial overgrowth Medical Encyclopedia
• Stools – floating Medical Encyclopedia
• Whipple disease Medical Encyclopedia

Encyclopedia

• Failure to thrive Medical Encyclopedia

Children

• Failure to Thrive (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Intestinal Failure (Short Bowel Syndrome) North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition
• Short Bowel Syndrome (For Parents) Nemours Foundation

Diagnosis and Tests

• Lower GI Series (Barium Enema) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Stool Elastase National Library of Medicine
• Stool Tests Nemours Foundation
• Xylose Testing National Library of Medicine

Start Here

• Malabsorption American Academy of Pediatrics
• Overview of Malabsorption Merck & Co., Inc.

Journal Articles

• Malabsorption Syndromes