What kind of malabsorption occurs in IBD?
Malabsorption means abnormal intestinal absorption. Crohn’s disease usually affects the small intestine, which is the part of the gut that absorbs most nutrients. Remember that Crohn’s disease involves the small bowel and/or the colon, while ulcerative colitis involves only the colon. Crohn’s disease of the upper part (duodenum) and middle part (jejunum) of the small intestine may interfere with the absorption of proteins, sugars, iron, vitamins, and fats. This widespread malabsorption in Crohn’s disease, which does not occur in ulcerative colitis, may lead to weight loss and malnutrition. In addition, some unabsorbed nutrients can cause the small or large intestine to secrete increased amounts of liquid, which worsens the diarrhea in Crohn’s disease. (As previously mentioned, diarrhea is the most common symptom in patients with IBD, with or without the intestinal complications.) The lower end (ileum) of the small intestine is the part of the bowel most commonly involved in Crohn’s dis
