Digestive disorders can cause nutritional challenges. Depending on the severity of the condition, intake and digestion of nutrients can be altered.  The main role of the small intestine is to absorb nutrients from the food that we eat into the bloodstream. Malabsorption disorders refers to a number of disorders in which the small intestine can’t absorb enough of certain nutrients and fluids.

Nutrients that the small intestine often has trouble absorbing can be macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, and fats), micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), or both. It can be caused by a variety of illnesses or can happen as a side effect of some types of medications and surgical prodcedures. Some forms of malabsorption such as pernicious anemia are unique to particular nutrients such as Vitamin B12 Deficiency while other malabsorption syndromes can be more general when the ability to absorb several nutrients is lost.

Malabsorption disorders may also be caused by digestive problems. The stomach may not be able to produce the enzymes needed to digest certain foods. Or the body may not be able to mix the food that we eat with the enzymes and acid produced by the stomach.

While medical treatment is necessary depending on what is causing malabsorption, there is also a need to take specific dietary supplements to replace nutrients that can’t be absorbed. The supplements need to be formulated so that they’re easy to digest and absorb.