Equipping People To Make Sense Of What They Are Told
Absorption -Once foodstuffs have been broken down into their constituent parts the
essential nutrients are absorbed through the wall of the duodenum and small intestine.
Transporting sugars (carbohydrates) and amino acids (protein) into your bloodstream
and lipids (fats) into your lymphatic system.
In a healthy person this process works quite efficiently, however, sugars and amino
acids require some help, they are not necessarily absorbed unaided.
An energy dependent process known as ‘active transport’ assists the process of absorption,
involving carrier molecules transporting nutrients through the epithelial cells
of the gut wall, into the blood stream. Similar to having the right key to fit the
right lock, various carriers molecules match themselves to different nutrients, that
combination may only pass through certain cells (binding sites), if the combination
of nutrients does not match the site it will not be absorbed .
Vitamins and minerals are transported and absorbed in a similar manner, anywhere
between the duodenum and the colon. Minerals requiring an acid environment for absorption
enter through the wall of the duodenum. Trace elements like zinc are gastric acid
free and ‘chelates’ (joins together like two pieces of a jig saw puzzle) with an
amino acid before it can be transported across the gut wall.
Fat soluble vitamins are absorbed through the wall of the lower part of the small
intestine, whilst water soluble vitamins are are absorbed through the upper part
of the small intestine, the exception being vitamin B12, a large molecule that has
to combine with a protein, produced in the stomach, known as the intrinsic factor
before it is absorbed.
The absorption (uptake) process is complex involving, feedback mechanism’s, electrical
signals, and special receptors (binding sites).
Many minerals and trace elements antagonise each other therefore caution is needed
when taking supplements, it is quite easy to create imbalances in the body which
may compromise your health.
Those with disease / disorder problems very often will experience absorption problems
(malabsorption).
A state arising from abnormality in absorption of food nutrients across the gastrointestinal
(GI) tract.
Impairment can be of single or multiple nutrients depending on the abnormality. This
may lead to malnutrition and a variety of anaemia's.
Malabsorption means the failure of the GI tract, usually the small intestine, to
absorb one or more substances from the diet. This is generally the result of some
defect or damage to the mucosal lining of the small intestine where most nutrient
absorption takes place.
The most common symptoms of malabsorption:
Diarrhoea.
Bloating.
Flatulence.
Cramping.
Weight loss.
Over time, one may become deficient in iron, proteins, various vitamins and minerals
and this can lead to degrees of malnutrition and a variety of anaemia's.
The most common anaemia's that may occur are:
Vitamin B12 anaemia.
Folic Acid anaemia.
Iron deficiency anaemia.
Vitamin K malabsorption causes the blood to thin out and could result in excess bleeding.
Protein depletion can lead to impaired bone formation and osteoporosis.
Calcium deficiency leads to weakening and demineralisation of the bone, causing a
condition called osteomalacia.
Impaired absorption of vitamin A could result in poor vision and night blindness
as well as dermatitis.
Malabsorption of protein, fat and carbohydrate leads to loss of calories, generalised
malnutrition and diarrhoea.
