Malabsorption syndrome

The small bowel is a complex organ involved in a variety of functions; in particular, it plays a key role in processes of digestion and absorption of nutrients, electrolytes, water, bile salts and drugs. The term malabsorption syndrome summarizes a complex of symptoms resulting from maldigestion and / or malabsorption, resulting when the extension of the disease exceeds the ability of intestine compensation. Signs and symptoms characterizing this syndrome may be manifold as the dysfunction can involve only specific substrates (selective malabsorption), or it can be generalized (global malabsorption). Regarding the etiology of the disorder, several conditions have been recognized as being responsible; however, a definitive classification is not yet available due to the complexity of the absorption process, the involvement of different organs and structures, and the coexistence of different mechanisms in some diseases causing malabsorption. This publication has been written for basic and clinical researchers as well as general physicians, illuminating some aspects of the large area of intestinal malabsorption.