Malabsorption Syndromes

Educational information. Individual clinical review of this presentation by Dr. Ehsan is not yet documented. It does not replace personal medical evaluation.

Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Read the original source

MedlinePlus data edition September 26, 2026. Imported September 27, 2026. These dates do not indicate a new clinical review of the article.

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.

Symptoms, tests and care options

Further reading selected by MedlinePlus. Links open the original organizations’ websites.

Lower GI Series (Barium Enema) · National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Stool Elastase · National Library of Medicine
Stool Tests (For Parents) · Nemours Foundation

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