Malabsorption conditions

Question 1

Macronutrients

Answer 1

Carbohydrate
Fat
Protein

Question 2

Micronutrients

Answer 2

Vitamins
Minerals

Question 3

Mucosal (absorption)

Answer 3

Crohn’s disease
Coeliac
Short bowel syndrome

Question 4

Pre-mucosal (digestion)

Answer 4

Pancreatitis
Cystic fibrosis
Lactase deficiency

Question 5

Crohn’s disease

Answer 5

Malabsorption linked to inflammation

Iron deficiency anaemia
B12 folate deficiency
Vitamin D & calcium deficiency

Question 6

Short bowel syndrome

Answer 6

May require parental nutrition
Less surface area available for absorption
Osteoporosis
Vitamins and calcium deficiency

Drugs not affected = Levothyroxine, warfarin, oral contraceptives, digoxin

Question 7

Coeliac

Answer 7

Autoimmune condition

Fatigue, GI symptoms, weight loss
Anaemia, osteoporosis

Treatment = remove gluten from diet

Question 8

Chronic pancreatitis

Answer 8

Leads to impaired function
Males > females
Decreases pancreatic enzymes
Associated with long term alcoholism
Test - faecal elastase

Question 9

Cystic fibrosis

Answer 9

Inherited
Decreased chloride secretion, increased sodium (thick mucus)
Steatorrhoea (fat in stool)
Osteoporosis
Malnutrition

Question 10

Lactase deficiency

Answer 10

Primary, secondary, congenital, developmental
Reduce/eliminate lactose dietary

Question 11

Bacterial overgrowth

Answer 11

Incidence increases with age
Reduced gastric acid
Impaired motility

Question 12

Fat malabsorption

Answer 12

Problem with digestion
Insufficient bile
Fat soluble vitamin deficiency (A, D, E, K)
Steatorrhoea

Question 13

Vitamin malabsorption

Answer 13

Vitamins A, D E, K

Vitamin A - Night blindness
Vitamin D - osteomalacia
Vitamin E - neurological problems
Vitamin K - clotting problems

Question 14

Carbs, protein, fat malabsorption treatments

Answer 14

Lipase
Amylase
Protease