The main difference between malabsorption and maldigestion is that malabsorption is the impaired absorption of nutrients at any point in which the absorption of nutrients occurs, whereas maldigestion is the impaired nutrient digestion within the intestinal lumen or at the brush border.
Malabsorption and maldigestion are two types of disorders that occur in the digestive system of animals. The gastrointestinal tract absorbs nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Malabsorption
– Definition, Characteristics, Importance
2. What is Maldigestion
– Definition, Characteristics, Importance
3. Similarities Between Malabsorption and Maldigestion
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Malabsorption and Maldigestion
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Malabsorption, Maldigestion
What is Malabsorption
Malabsorption is the impaired absorption of nutrients by the digestive tract of animals. Primarily, it occurs due to the dysfunction of the small intestine, pancreas, and gallbladder. Malabsorption of single to many nutrients can occur in the digestive system. However, the gastrointestinal tract of animals digests and absorbs dietary nutrients with remarkable efficiency. Usually, in the Western diet, the digestive system absorbs 400 g carbohydrates, 100 g proteins, 100 g fat, and 2 L of fluid. In addition, it absorbs sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, and chloride elements.
Figure 1: Digestive System
Furthermore, malabsorption produces a number of gastrointestinal problems in some individuals, while in some individuals, it does not show any symptoms. In addition, some gastrointestinal symptoms that occur due to malabsorption include diarrhea, flatulence, weight loss, abdominal bloating, pain, abdominal cramps, etc. Moreover, some of the causes of malabsorption include cystic fibrosis, lactose intolerance, chronic pancreatitis, Whipple disease, and cow’s milk protein intolerance.
What is Maldigestion
Maldigestion is the impaired digestion of nutrients in the lumen of the intestine. In general terms, it is called food intolerance. It generally occurs when the digestive system does not properly digest the food into components. The main reason behind maldigestion is the missing digestive enzymes. As a result, the digestion of nutrients occurs in an alternative way, for example, by intestinal bacteria. However, only a small amount of nutrients can absorb into the body in this way. Therefore, maldigestion can cause deficiency syndrome in individuals.
Figure 2: Maldigestion
Moreover, maldigestion results in food intolerance and causes unpleasant symptoms, including nausea, abdominal cramps, pain, diarrhea, and fatty stools. In general, 20% of the population suffers from food intolerance. The digestion of food occurs in two ways in the digestive system. They are mechanical digestion and chemical digestion. Mechanical digestion occurs through chewing and gastrointestinal movements, while chemical digestion occurs through enzymes in the intestine.
Similarities Between Malabsorption and Maldigestion
- Malabsorption and maldigestion are two types of disorders of the digestive system.
- Generally, the main function of the digestive system is to digest and absorb nutrients.
Difference Between Malabsorption and Maldigestion
Definition
Malabsorption refers to the impaired absorption of nutrients at any point where nutrients are absorbed, while maldigestion refers to the impaired digestion of nutrients in the intestinal lumen or at another brush border.
Significance
Malabsorption is the impaired absorption of nutrients in the digestive tract, while maldigestion refers to the impaired digestion of nutrients in the intestinal lumen.
Occurrence
Furthermore, malabsorption occurs due to the dysfunction of the small intestine, pancreas, and gall bladder, while maldigestion occurs at the intestinal lumen or the brush border.
Conclusion
In brief, malabsorption and maldigestion are two types of disorders that occur in the digestive system. Malabsorption is the impaired absorption of nutrients by the digestive tract of animals. Generally, it occurs due to the dysfunction of the small intestine, pancreas, and gall bladder. Maldigestion, on the other hand, is the impaired digestion of nutrients by the lumen of the intestine. It also occurs at the brush border of the small intestine. Therefore, the main difference between malabsorption and maldigestion is the occurrence.
References:
- Zuvarox T, Belletieri C. “Malabsorption Syndromes. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; Jan. 2022.
- “Malabsorption.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, 19 Nov. 2019,
Image Courtesy:
- “Whipple2” By Countincr – Own work (CC BY-SA 2.5) via Commons Wikimedia
- “Small-Intestine-highlighted” By US gov – Own Work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
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