Maldigestion

Maldigestion (K30) is defined as deficient enzyme and/or bile secretion with consecutive disturbance of the hydrolysis of carbohydrate, protein and fat into low-molecular cleavage products or with disturbance of the emulsification of fats.

The causes of maldigestion are:

• Disturbed digestion of nutrients
  • Lack of digestive enzymes (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency: chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, pancreas resection).
  • Inactivation of digestive enzymes: Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
• Disturbed fat emulsification
  • Reduced bile acid synthesis (e.g. liver cirrhosis)
  • Disturbed bile acid secretion (cholestasis e.g. occlusive cholestasis or intrahepatic cholestasis)
  • Reduced conjugated bile acid (bacterial overgrowth in small bowel diverticulosis, Bildsack syndrome, motility disorders of the small bowel e.g. in systemic sclerosis)
  • Increased loss of bile acid (syn.: bile acid loss syndrome) in the case of resection of the terminal ileum or in Crohn's disease.