| |
Steatorrhea is not a really a condition but a symptom in which fecal matter is frothy, foul-smelling and floats because of a high fat content. It is common in malabsorption syndromes. Both digestive and absorptive disorders can cause steatorrhea. Digestive disorders affect the production and release of the enzyme lipase from the pancreas, or bile from the liver, which are substances that aid digestion of fats; absorptive disorders disturb the absorptive and enzyme functions of the intestine.
Any condition that causes malabsorption or maldigestion is also associated with increased fecal fat. The absence or significant decrease of the pancreatic enzymes, amylase, lipase, trypsin, and chymotrypsin limits fat, protein and carbohydrate digestion, resulting in steatorrhea due to fat malabsorption.
|
|
|
