What is malabsorption syndrome, Biology

Assignment Help:

Q. What is Malabsorption Syndrome?

Did you know that a major part of the absorption of nutrients takes place in the small intestine and the set of enzymes involved in this process are called disaccharidases. In some conditions either genetically, or due to some intestinal damage there appears to be a deficiency of some of these enzymes, which in turn, leads to the malabsorption of some of the nutrients precipitating symptoms of diarrhoea, dissention and abdominal discomfort and steatorrhoea (fat in stools).

These conditions are together referred to as Malabsorption Syndromes. The term 'malabsorption syndrome', as you have learnt earlier also, is used to describe deficient absorption to a variable degree of a number of substances such as fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water.

Before we understand about this syndrome, let us look at the following case study. Anuradha, a teenager, presents to the physician's office with a two-year history of intermittent diarrhoea. Her reports reveal a past history of anaemia, anorexia and minor abdominal pain. Her weight has been the same for two years now. Her mother has attributed this to her having n "rough time in school". Her mother also questions whether the symptoms could be related to a recent move from their home. She has not yet reached menarche; A diet history suggests a normal diet with adequate iron intake. Can you guess what she suffers from and what could be the causative factors leading to such a condition?


Related Discussions:- What is malabsorption syndrome

Which organs are protected by the skull, Which organs are protected by (a) ...

Which organs are protected by (a) the skull, (b) the rib cage, (c) the vertebrae?   a) The skull safe the brain, b) the rib cage safes the heart, lungs, liver and spleen,

Photolithoautotrophs - nutritional types of microorganisms, Explain Photoli...

Explain Photolithoautotrophs - Nutritional Types of Microorganisms? These microorganisms use light as an energy source, inorganic substance as electron source and CO 2 as the

Analysis of the written reports, Analysis of the written reports   of  serv...

Analysis of the written reports   of  service in relation  to  the fitness, quality and efficiency of the service should be provided. The routine record-checking is always insuffic

What is the ability of two oxygens to remove h+ protons, What makes the clu...

What makes the cluster of atoms of carboxylic acid functional group an acid? a) a non-polar O-H bond near another electronegative oxygen. b) an ionic O-H bond near another el

Assignment, Economic and ecological importance of protozoans

Economic and ecological importance of protozoans

How can you describe pleural effusion, Q. How can you describe Pleural Effu...

Q. How can you describe Pleural Effusion? Fluid has a density indistinguishable from soft tissue on a radiograph. Pleural fluid tends to accumulate in the deepest part of the

Explain subphylum urochordata, Subphylum Urochordata : (13,000 species, se...

Subphylum Urochordata : (13,000 species, sea squirts) Notocord is dorally situated, nerve tube dorsally situated and is hollow, chordate characteristics seen mainly in bilatera

Explain the lactose fermenters and non lactose fermenters, Explain the Lact...

Explain the Lactose Fermenters and Non lactose Fermenters 1) Lactose Fermenters - These produce acid on lactose fermentation, which results in red colouration on bacterial colo

Why water is considered a universal solvent, Water is considered a universa...

Water is considered a universal solvent because- Select one: a. it can dissolve polar and non-polar compounds b. it can dissolve both positively and negatively charged ions a

Human eye, Who first discovered eye anatomy?

Who first discovered eye anatomy?

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd