Signs of poor digestion. Digestion in the stomach: the process of formation of gastric juice

Malabsorption, or malabsorption, is a condition in which the nutrients that enter the small intestine are poorly absorbed due to inflammation, disease, or injury. Malabsorption can occur due to many causes such as cancer, celiac disease, granulomatous disease (Crohn's disease). By identifying the symptoms in time and taking the necessary measures, you can recover from malabsorption and prevent its occurrence in the future.

Symptom recognition

1. Familiarize yourself with risk factors for malabsorption. Anyone can develop malabsorption, but there are factors that increase the risk of this disease. Knowing these factors will help you identify the disease in time and successfully recover from it.

2. Identify Possible Symptoms. In malabsorption, there are many symptoms of varying severity, depending on which nutrients are not absorbed by the intestines. Recognizing the symptoms early will help you start the right treatment as soon as possible.

• The most common signs are various gastrointestinal disorders: chronic diarrhea, bloating, abdominal cramps, gas accumulation. Excess fat can cause your stool to change color and increase in volume.
• Common symptoms include changes in body weight, especially noticeable weight loss.
• Malabsorption may be accompanied by increased fatigue and weakness.
• With malabsorption, anemia and slow blood clotting are also observed. Anemia results from a lack of vitamin B12, folate, or iron. Poor blood clotting is associated with a lack of vitamin K.
• Dermatitis and night blindness (reduced vision at dusk) may indicate malabsorption of vitamin A.
• With a lack of potassium and other electrolytes, cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) may occur.

3. Watch your body. If you suspect that you are developing malabsorption, take a close look at how your body functions. This will help you not only to detect the relevant symptoms, but also to diagnose and start treatment in a timely manner.

• Pay attention to light-colored, soft or too bulky stools, as well as stools that are too smelly. Such stools can also be poorly washed off, sticking to the walls of the toilet bowl.
• Watch for bloating and gas buildup after eating certain foods.
• Your feet may swell due to fluid buildup.

4. Notice general weakness. Malabsorption deprives your body of vitality. This can manifest itself in the fact that the bones become more fragile, and the muscles become weak. Paying attention to the deteriorating condition of your bones, muscles and even hair, you will be able to recognize malabsorption in time and begin treatment.

• Your hair may become too dry and fall out a lot.
• If you are a teenager, then in case of illness you may notice that your body does not grow and muscles do not develop. Muscles can even weaken and atrophy.
• Some forms of malabsorption can be accompanied by bone pain and even neuropathy.

Diagnosis and treatment

1. Visit a doctor. If you have one or more of the above symptoms and/or are in a high-risk group, contact your doctor immediately. Early diagnosis will allow timely treatment.

• Your doctor will be able to diagnose malabsorption by taking a careful history.
• To make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe various tests and tests for you.

2. Describe your symptoms to your doctor. Before visiting the doctor, remember the anxiety symptoms you are experiencing and write them down. So you can easily explain your condition to the doctor without losing sight of any important information.

• Tell your doctor in detail about your symptoms and how you feel. For example, if you suffer from bloating and cramps, describe your condition using terms such as "sharp", "dull" or "severe pain". Such epithets are suitable for describing many physical symptoms.
• Tell your doctor about how long you have been experiencing certain symptoms. The more accurately you remember when the symptoms started, the easier the doctor will be able to determine their cause.
• Be sure to mention how often you experience anxiety symptoms. It will also help the doctor determine the cause of the symptoms. For example, you might say something like, "I have gas and a lot of stool every day" or "I sometimes have swelling in my feet."
• Tell your doctor about recent changes in your lifestyle (such as increased stress levels).
• Tell your doctor about any medications you are taking, including any that can make your asthma worse.

3. Pass all the necessary tests, go through the studies and get a diagnosis. If the doctor thinks that you may have malabsorption, after a general examination and review of your medical history, he or she may order additional tests and tests for you to rule out the possibility of other diseases. The results of these tests and studies will be able to confirm the diagnosis of malabsorption.

5. Blood and urine tests may be required. If your doctor suspects you have a malabsorption disorder, he or she may ask you for blood and urine tests. These tests help identify deficiencies in certain nutrients, such as proteins, vitamins, and minerals that lead to anemia.

• Your doctor will likely check the viscosity of blood plasma components, vitamin B12 levels, red blood cell folic acid levels, iron levels, blood clotting, calcium levels, antibody levels, and serum magnesium levels.

6. Get ready for research to see what's going on inside your body. To check the damage done to your body by malabsorption, your doctor may send you for x-rays and/or ultrasounds, as well as CT scans, to better assess the condition of your intestines.

• X-rays and computed tomography will help the doctor not only diagnose malabsorption, but also determine exactly where it is observed. This will allow you to draw up the right treatment plan.
• Your doctor may refer you for an x-ray. You will need to sit still until the operator takes pictures of your small intestine. X-rays will help identify possible damage in this lower area of ​​your intestines.
• Your doctor may refer you for a CT scan, which will require you to lie inside the scanner for a few minutes. A CT scan can help determine how badly your bowel is damaged and help guide treatment.
• Abdominal ultrasound can help identify problems with the gallbladder, liver, pancreas, intestinal wall, or lymph nodes.
• You may be asked to drink an aqueous suspension of barium sulfate so that the operator can better see possible pathologies.

7. Consider taking a hydrogen breath test. Your doctor may refer you for a hydrogen breath test. This test will help identify lactose intolerance and malabsorption of lactose-like sugars, as well as an appropriate treatment plan.

• During the test, you will be asked to exhale air into a special reservoir.
• After that, you will be given an aqueous solution of lactose, glucose, or other sugar to drink.
• You will then have breath samples taken every thirty minutes, analyzing the hydrogen content and judging from it the growth of bacteria. The increased content of hydrogen indicates deviations from the norm.

8. Collection of cell samples for biopsy. Less invasive methods may indicate malabsorption problems in your intestines. To check for these problems, the doctor may take a sample of intestinal tissue for further laboratory tests.

• Typically, a sample of intestinal tissue for a biopsy is taken during an endoscopy or colonoscopy.

9. Start your treatment. Based on the specific diagnosis and severity of malabsorption, your doctor will prescribe a course of treatment for you. In mild forms of the disease, it is enough to take vitamins, in case of a severe form, hospitalization may be necessary.

• Keep in mind that even with timely treatment, it will take some time to get rid of malabsorption.

10. Replenish missing nutrients. After the doctor determines which substances are not absorbed in your intestines, he or she will prescribe vitamins and nutritional supplements to make up for the lack of these substances in the body.

• For mild to moderate forms of malabsorption, it is enough to take nutritional supplements with meals or to inject small doses of nutrient solution intravenously.
• Your doctor may recommend that you eat a special diet rich in nutrients. This diet will contain an increased amount of the missing nutrients.

Warnings

• If you experience symptoms of malabsorption, make an appointment with your doctor immediately. Although you may be able to correctly diagnose yourself (malabsorption), you may not be able to identify the root cause and find the appropriate treatment.

Inadequate intake of iron in the human body invariably leads to the fact that a serious disease begins to progress in him - iron deficiency anemia. However, often this pathological condition can be triggered by another serious factor - poor absorption of iron by the human body. The reasons for the non-absorption of iron in the body can be very different, but they always lead to the same outcome - disruption of the work of all organs. Only knowledge of why iron is not absorbed in the body will help to identify problems in a timely manner and eliminate them.

Iron is an extremely necessary and important element, thanks to which it is possible to carry out the normal operation of all systems and organs in a living organism. Factors that interfere with the absorption of iron are quite common in people. At the same time, there will most likely not be pronounced symptoms of iron deficiency anemia. In this case, it is worth finding out in detail why iron is not absorbed in the body and why this element manifests itself so “capriciously”?

The process of assimilation of iron by the body is a rather complex mechanism, which is regulated by numerous factors. The following phenomena or factors are of paramount importance for the correct implementation of this mechanism: iron-regulatory proteins, enzymes that take part in the process of iron conversion, hypoxia, oxidative processes. Myoglobin, cytochromes, many enzymes are in dire need of iron ions.

Many are concerned about the question of why iron is not absorbed in the body, the reasons for which are directly related to the violation of the correct metabolism of iron in the body. Factors that interfere with the absorption of iron in the body: wrong food habits, stomach problems, chronic kidney disease, genetic abnormality. There are also separate reasons why iron is not absorbed in a woman's body. These include endometriosis, uterine fibroids and various uterine bleeding.

The reasons

If iron is not absorbed in the body, the reasons often lie in the impaired functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Often, serious pathologies that prevent the absorption of iron into the body include peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum. If we talk about the ulcer itself, then it does not cause disturbances in the exchange. However, complications often appear, such as stenosis, when there is a narrowing of the exit and the duodenal bulb.

It is this that becomes the pathological reason why the absorption of most nutritional enzymes, vitamins, and iron necessary for humans is completely disrupted. Also, what not everyone knows, iron is not absorbed in the lower gastrointestinal tract. And some dangerous diseases require the removal of the upper sections: tumor formations, polyps, acute obstruction. In this case, the absorption of iron does not occur.

We should also talk about atrophic gastritis. This pathological disease is characterized by a prolonged inflammatory process of the gastric mucosa, which is accompanied by atrophy. The disease has several factors that affect the absorption of the metal:

1. There is a critically low level of hydrochloric acid. Many experts have precisely established that the necessary microelement is best absorbed in an acidic environment. With an atrophic form of gastritis, the phenomenon of increased pH only worsens the process of iron absorption.
2. Intrinsic factor Castle also plays a significant role in the proper metabolism of iron. With this gastritis, insufficient synthesis of this factor may occur, which significantly affects the absorption of vitamin B12. This vitamin is essential for iron metabolism.

Kidney diseases significantly affect the process of assimilation of this element. There is a development of renal failure, in which the correct production of erythropoietins is disrupted. This leads to the fact that we can observe reduced metal utilization.

What foods interfere with the absorption of iron in the body

When people think about why the body does not absorb iron, almost no one thinks about what foods can interfere with this process. Nutrition is the only external source of the necessary element. Tea and coffee are beverages that significantly interfere with the metal absorption process. Also, some vitamin preparations affect this process - taking calcium, magnesium or zinc at the same time.

If it is problematic to establish why iron is poorly absorbed in the body, you need to pay attention to your diet. Therefore, it is important to know which foods interfere with the absorption of iron: dairy products (due to calcium, which interferes with the absorption of iron), cereals, pasta, cheese, semolina (due to phytin in its composition). It is also recommended not to eat foods high in iron, which contain a lot of dietary fiber.

What to do if iron is not absorbed

Regardless of the reasons or phenomena that prevent the absorption of such an important and valuable macronutrient in the human body, it is always necessary to pay attention to signs of a lack of this element. Since a long-term iron deficiency can become chronic, then a person will definitely need the help of a specialist and the correct correction of anemia.

It is almost impossible to independently identify the reasons that prevent iron from being absorbed. Even an experienced specialist will need additional examinations to establish an accurate diagnosis. This examination often includes the determination of blood enzymes. Self-medication can only improve the condition for a short period of time, but not completely get rid of the problem. If the problem is not pathologies, then it will be enough to correct the diet.

Poor diet, snacking on the run, or heavy meals at night can all cause the stomach to not digest food. What to do when the stomach cannot digest food, and how to restore the work of the body, excites many.

1 Basic information about the disease

The stomach is the place where food is digested. Its volume in an adult is approximately 2-3 liters. Food enters the stomach through the esophagus, where it is broken down into its components: proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. When the body feels the need for food, it gives a signal, and the amount of hydrochloric acid increases, which contributes to the breakdown of food. The speed of this process is different: carbohydrates are completely processed in 2 hours, while a similar process for fats takes up to 5 hours.

The deterioration of the stomach, in which it practically stops digesting food, is called dyspepsia and may be accompanied by unpleasant sensations: bouts of nausea, heaviness in the abdomen and a feeling of fullness. If timely effective measures are not taken, the consequences will be very serious.

Symptoms of dyspepsia can manifest as follows:

• feeling of fullness in the stomach;
• bloating, distension;
• symptoms of peptic ulcer: vomiting, nausea, heartburn, "hungry" pain;
• belching;
• after eating, there may be a burning sensation in the chest area;
• heaviness and pain in the upper abdomen, not associated with eating;
• pain in the upper spine;
• sometimes there is vomiting, causing relief for a short period;
• loss of appetite, rapid satiety (associated with undigested food in the stomach).

The disease can develop in different ways: according to the ulcerative, dyskinetic or non-specific variant. The dyskinetic variant involves the appearance of a feeling of rapid satiety, overcrowding, and discomfort. With peptic ulcer, there are signs of peptic ulcer, that is, belching, "hungry" or night pain, heartburn. The nonspecific variant combines signs of both ulcerative and dyskinetic course of the disease.

2 Causes of the disease

The most common causes of dyspepsia are malnutrition and lack of a culture of eating. Dry snacks, in conditions of constant stress and haste, will certainly affect health. The selection of products can affect the functioning of the stomach. There are a number of products that, depending on the individual characteristics of a person, the stomach does not perceive.

Discomfort can arise from fatty, heavy or overly spicy foods. Alcohol can also cause problems, as it stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid, thereby increasing the load on the walls of the stomach.

In some cases, disruption of the functioning of the stomach can be caused by hormonal failure - this phenomenon is often observed in pregnant women. Finally, the secretion of gastric juice may be the result of disorders of the secretory glands.

In some cases, poor health may occur in the morning. This suggests that a person abuses late meals. Like all human organs, the stomach must have time to rest.

There are other causes of dyspepsia:

• decreased metabolism;
• the appearance of bacterial colonies in the gastric mucosa;
• insufficient concentration of gastric juice;
• gastritis.

Regardless of the reasons why the stomach does not digest food, it is urgent to start treatment and seriously review the diet and food selection.

3 Types and forms of the disease

There are two main groups of the disease: organic and functional. Organic dyspepsia is a syndrome in which there are no serious violations of the structure of the digestive tract, only functional, that is, associated with the work of the organs. Functional dyspepsia is characterized by the appearance of structural pathological changes in the digestive tract. In this case, the symptoms will be observed more clearly and for a long time.

The main types of the disease are determined depending on the causes that provoked their occurrence.

Dyspepsia caused by intestinal infections can be of several types:

• salmonellosis - characterized by an increase in temperature up to 39 ° C, the appearance of vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and headache;
• dysentery - usually affects the large intestine, the main manifestation is stool mixed with blood;
• intoxication - develops as a result of poisoning with influenza, acute infectious diseases, poisoning with poisons.

Dyspepsia associated with a lack of digestive enzymes can be of the following types:

• gastrogenic;
• hepatogenic;
• pancreatogenic;
• enterogenic.

Alimentary dyspepsia is caused by an unhealthy lifestyle and has 3 subspecies, characterized by an excess of any component.

Putrefactive develops when eating too many carbohydrate-containing foods, that is, meat, fish, and eggs predominate in the diet. Perhaps the development of the disease due to the consumption of stale meat products.

Fatty dyspepsia is caused by an excess of fats in the diet, especially refractory fats - lamb or pork fat.

The fermentation form is caused by an excess of carbohydrate-containing foods in the diet, such as bread, legumes, cabbage, sugar and some others, as well as fermentation drinks (these include beer and kvass).

4 Diagnostic methods

The cessation of digestion of food in the stomach can be a symptom of another, more serious disease, so if signs appear, you should consult a doctor.

First of all, the doctor collects an anamnesis. It is necessary to describe all complaints as accurately as possible: how long and how much the pain bothers you, when they appear, whether there is heartburn, whether there are other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

After that, the doctor may prescribe both instrumental and laboratory tests.

Instrumental studies may include ultrasound and computed tomography. With the help of electrogastroenterography, violations of the motility of the stomach, that is, its ability to promote the food mass, are detected. If more serious diseases (tumors) are suspected, the patient may be prescribed x-rays. The inner surface of the stomach is analyzed using an endoscope, often with simultaneous biopsy. Tests are carried out for the presence of the pathogen Helicobacter pylori.

Laboratory studies include a biochemical blood test, a stool test for the presence of dietary fiber and occult blood.

5 Treatment activities

If a violation of digestion in the stomach is caused by the development of another disease (flu and other viral diseases, ulcers, gastritis, pancreatic diseases, duodenitis, etc.), it is he who is treated first.

For the treatment of directly indigestion in the stomach, the patient is prescribed medications of various directions. For constipation, the patient is prescribed a laxative, but not for permanent use - only until the stool returns to normal. If diarrhea is observed, the patient should take antidiarrheal drugs.

The patient is prescribed some drugs designed to eliminate the main symptoms of the disease:

1. Enzymatic - improve digestion, the work of the stomach and duodenum.
2. Proton pump blockers - are prescribed for increased acidity of the stomach, manifested in the form of heartburn and sour belching.
3. Histamine blockers are drugs that reduce the acidity of the stomach, but have a weaker effect than proton pump blockers.
4. Painkillers - antispasmodics that reduce pain in the abdomen.

Non-drug treatment consists of simple measures. After eating, it is advised to walk for at least 30 minutes. At the time of treatment, the load on the press is excluded: twisting, lifting or tilting the torso.

Since one of the reasons that food is poorly digested is malnutrition, it is reasonable to try to improve the condition with the help of a diet. Therefore, at least for the duration of treatment, you need to give up fast food, fried, fatty, semi-finished products, since all of the listed products have a large amount of simple fats.

It is important to have a positive attitude - it helps to improve the production of gastric juice. Therefore, while eating, you do not need to plunge into gloomy thoughts or be distracted by watching TV, reading the newspaper and browsing the news on the Internet.

The main rule is to seriously review the diet. It is important to give preference to natural and high-quality food. If the stomach does not accept any food, then you can switch to a separate diet, since a diet selected in accordance with the rules allows you to unload the digestive system and determine a product that is not perceived by the gastrointestinal tract.

Separate nutrition involves following several rules. The main thing is that you can’t mix carbohydrates and proteins in one meal, since their processing requires a different concentration of gastric juice. In this case, fats can be combined with both proteins and carbohydrates.

It is important not to mix foods that take different amounts of time to digest. For example, nuts take longer to digest, so don't eat them at the same time as an orange.

You also need to be careful with liquids. It is not allowed to drink hot coffee or tea immediately after eating. To avoid problems, you need to drink water 15 minutes before a meal and at least an hour after a meal.

Poor absorption of iron will invariably affect the work of all organs and systems. Knowing the root causes will help to diagnose the problem in time and deal with its elimination.

Iron is a very important macronutrient that ensures the normal functioning of all organs and systems in the body. The daily requirement for iron in men is 10 mg, women - up to 20 mg. Pregnant and lactating mothers should receive about 35 mg of this element per day.

Conditions that are characterized by poor absorption of iron are quite common. Moreover, obvious anemia is completely optional. Why is this important metal sometimes so "whimsical"?

Iron metabolism in the body

Iron absorption is a complex process regulated by numerical mechanisms. Key to these processes are:

• iron regulatory proteins;
• enzymes involved in iron conversion reactions;
• the amount of iron deposited in the tissues;
• nitrogen oxide;
• hypoxia;
• oxidative stress.

Normally, iron is absorbed in the upper parts of the small intestine - the duodenum and the beginning of the jejunum. Its mucous membrane is covered with so-called enterocytes - cells, at the top of which there is a brush border. Thanks to this border, the assimilation of ions occurs - it captures them and delivers them inside the cell. Part of the incoming iron is deposited in the mucous membrane, connecting with apoferritin and forming ferritin, the rest enters the blood.

In the blood, ferroxidase enzymes oxidize the incoming ions, after which they bind to the carrier, the transferrin protein. It supplies iron to the bone marrow, erythrocyte precursor cells. Here, with the help of transferrin receptors, transferrin enters the cells, where it gives up the brought ion.

The free form of iron is used to synthesize heme. The part that has not been used is deposited in lysosomes and used as needed.

These processes are regulated at the gene level, and special enzymes take part in all reactions, without which normal iron metabolism becomes impossible.

In this way, about 75% of the iron entering the body is absorbed. The remaining 25% is spent on the needs of other organs and systems. In addition to hemoglobin, myoglobin, cytochromes, multiple ferum-dependent enzymes, which require an iron ion, need iron. Also in the body are formed reserves of this element. They are consumed when there is insufficient intake of food.

Causes of iron metabolism disorders

All conditions in which the body suffers from a lack of iron can be divided into two groups: due to either increased losses or insufficient intake of the element.

The first group of reasons include:

• acute and chronic diseases accompanied by bleeding;
• prolonged and heavy menstruation in women;
• frequent pregnancies and childbirth;
• periods of active growth and development of the body - children under one year old, adolescents.

The second group includes:

• wrong eating habits;
• problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
• chronic kidney disease;
• genetic changes.

Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract

The most common cause that interferes with the normal absorption of iron is the pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.

Peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum. By itself, the ulcer does not interfere with the process of assimilation of iron. However, it is often complicated by stenosis - a narrowing of the exit from the stomach and duodenal bulb. This makes it difficult for the passage of food through the gastrointestinal tract and the absorption of almost all nutrients and vitamins.

Pathological conditions requiring resection of the stomach and duodenum. Most often, these are tumor diseases, both malignant and benign, polyps, bleeding and perforated ulcers, acute obstruction at the level of the duodenum. Under these conditions, the upper sections of the gastrointestinal tract are removed, and in the lower sections, iron is simply not absorbed.

Atrophic gastritis is a pathological condition characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa and is accompanied by its atrophy. In this disease, there are two points that affect the absorption of iron.

1. Insufficient level of hydrochloric acid. Scientists have found that iron is better absorbed in an acidic environment. An increase in the pH of the stomach, which is observed in atrophic gastritis, impairs the absorption of this element in the body.
2. Insufficient synthesis of intrinsic factor Castle prevents the normal absorption of vitamin B12. Deficiency of this vitamin negatively affects iron metabolism.

By the way, the insufficiency of the intrinsic factor of Castle also occurs in diseases that were accompanied by gastric resection.

Malabsorption syndrome, or impaired absorption, is a pathological syndrome that is observed in a variety of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. As the name suggests, the key to this syndrome is the complete or partial inability to absorb certain nutrients, including iron.

Malabsorption can be primary or secondary. Primary malabsorption is based on a genetic deficiency of enzymes or a violation of their work. Secondary malabsorption syndrome occurs when:

• pancreatitis;
• gastritis;
• celiac disease;
• colitis;
• thyroid diseases.

In this case, the main role in the pathogenesis is played by the insufficiency of digestive enzymes and increased motor function of the intestine.

Wrong eating habits

Food is the only external source of iron. Most of it is found in meat and liver, somewhat less in eggs, fish, caviar. Moreover, the type and color of meat does not matter in principle - both white and red meat are rich in iron.

Of plant foods, beans, peas, and soybeans contain the most iron. Less of it in apples, berries, grain products.

Vegetarians, refusing to take animal food, argue that the need for iron can be completely satisfied with plant foods. Considering only the content of this element in 100 g of the product, it may seem that this is indeed the case.

But the iron found in meat and plant foods is significantly different from each other. The first, the so-called heme, is absorbed almost completely. Non-heme iron from plant foods can be divalent or trivalent. In order for the trivalent to be restored to the divalent, a reducing agent is needed. Ascorbic acid is best suited for this role. But the absorption of even ferrous iron is about four times worse than that of heme.

In addition to the source, accompanying food products are of great importance. Vitamins of group B, orange and apple juices, sauerkraut help iron absorption. Tea and coffee worsen this process by about a third. Taking calcium, magnesium and zinc with iron also negatively affects its absorption. This must be taken into account when choosing complex mineral preparations. For the same reason, meat and dairy products, which are a source of easily digestible calcium, must be taken separately.

kidney disease

In a healthy person, special substances are produced in the kidneys - erythropoietins. They regulate erythropoiesis, that is, the process of formation of red blood cells. In diseases that are accompanied by the development of chronic renal failure, there is a deficiency of this hormone, which significantly reduces the utilization of iron in the body.

In addition, patients with chronic renal failure regularly undergo hemodialysis, which consists in filtering the blood and removing toxic substances from the body. Along with toxins, beneficial compounds, including iron, are also removed from the body.

Also important is the fact that with this pathology, the excretory function is partially taken over by the stomach. Performing an unusual function leads to the development of inflammation and deterioration of iron absorption.

Fermentopathies

As already mentioned, regulatory enzymes are involved in iron metabolism. Violations of their work leads to changes in the course of reactions. Normal utilization of iron in the body under such conditions becomes impossible. Most often, failures occur at the genetic level and are congenital in nature, so the enzymes remain defective forever.

A similar mechanism also takes place in the case of disruption of transferrin, when the delivery of iron into the cell becomes impossible. A feature of these conditions is that the absorption of iron can remain absolutely normal. Of course, conditions when enzymes do not work properly cause anemia are very rare, but they should not be forgotten.

Finally

Regardless of the etiology, iron deficiency in the body requires correction. It is almost impossible to independently determine the cause of low hemoglobin. Even for a specialist to make a correct diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct an additional study, which determines blood enzymes. By self-medicating, at best, you can only temporarily improve your condition, so do not delay a visit to the doctor. Timely treatment will have a positive effect on your health.

In today's world of constant stress, processed foods, antibiotics and chemicals in food, many people suffer from poor digestion.

Bloating after eating, constipation, heartburn and gas in the intestines are symptoms of poor digestion that everyone knows about. But there are many other symptoms that indicate that you have digestive problems - from brittle nails to arthritis - these are signs to be aware of.

Bad breath

If you're suffering from bad breath that won't go away no matter how often or how hard you brush your teeth, then it might be worth looking deeper into the cause, all the way down to your digestive system. Gastroenterologists may suggest that fishy breath indicates kidney problems, and fruity breath indicates diabetes. This odor is caused by an imbalance of good/bad bacteria in the gut, and so after eating sweets, the odor can be noticeably stronger as these bacteria feed on sugar.

Disruption of the digestive system, such as reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is also a cause of bad breath.

Take probiotics and fermented foods to help your body digest food and improve gut bacteria. Taking probiotics will also change the flora in your mouth, which will reduce bad breath in no time.

Unpleasant body odor

Indigestion leads to the formation of malodorous chemicals in the intestines, which are then reabsorbed by the body and eliminated through the skin in the form of sweat.

Since protein-rich foods (especially red meat) are poorly digested in the intestines, they can cause body odor as they take longer to transit through the digestive tract. Studies have shown that participants on a meat-free diet had a significantly more attractive, more pleasant, and less intense smell than participants who ate meat.

If you notice an increase in body odor, especially after eating, then your digestive enzyme levels are likely lower than ideal. Avoid red meat and fatty foods, which can be more difficult to digest.

Tired after eating

If, after a heavy meal, you are drawn to sleep, then most likely your digestion can be considered sluggish. When the digestive system is stressed, the body is forced to devote its energy to the digestion and assimilation of food, causing you to feel tired.

If you're overeating, your body will strain to keep you full and help your digestive system, and you'll feel sleepy. Reduce the amount of food and supplement the main meals with small snacks with healthy foods to reduce stress and give the body a rest.

A short walk after a meal is great for improving digestion - plus the fresh air should give you a boost of energy. You can also try drinking a spoonful of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water before every meal, which helps the digestive system to do its job.

Iron-deficiency anemia

You are anemic or diagnosed - a fairly common cause of iron deficiency in men and post-menopausal women. The gastrointestinal tract (both the stomach and intestines) is the part of the body that is responsible for the digestion of food. But there are usually no obvious symptoms of blood loss.

In addition, insufficiency of stomach acid, which leads to poor digestion, is another cause of iron deficiency in the body. And digestive disorders, such as celiac disease, can lead to anemia due to a disruption in the body's ability to absorb nutrients from digested food.

Brittle nails

Brittle nails can be a good indicator that the stomach is not producing enough acid to digest food properly. This means that the body will not be able to get nutrients from foods such as protein, calcium and zinc - which are essential for strong nails and healthy hair. In traditional Chinese medicine, unhealthy nails and hair are considered a sure sign of poor digestion, as they reflect the ability of the gastrointestinal tract to process and digest nutrients.

Dermatologists believe that digestive problems are one of the causes of ingrown toenails - and you probably thought it only happened because the shoes were too tight? In addition, iron deficiency (as mentioned above) can lead to thinning of the nail bed and the growth of concave, raised, or spoon-shaped nails.

Acne and other skin conditions

Many skin conditions (such as acne, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, or rosacea) actually start in the digestive tract. Therapists emphasize that many diseases that seem completely unrelated to the gut, including eczema and psoriasis, are actually caused by digestive problems.

If you have dry or flaky skin, it could mean that your body is trying to digest fat because you have low levels of the enzyme lipase. Similarly, if digestion is impaired and foods are not processed properly, you will not be getting vitamins like A, K, and E needed for smooth, glowing skin.

Vitamin A is a key factor in preventing acne. Not only does this vitamin repair the skin, it also strengthens the immune system, which will help the body fight the bacteria that causes acne inflammation. Vitamin K prevents acne, inflammation and accelerates healing; and the antioxidant properties of vitamin E are essential for clear and healthy skin.

Low levels of beneficial bacteria in the gut can also lead to inflammation, which makes the skin look bumpy and worsens skin tone.

Food intolerances and allergies

Digestive problems are thought to be a major factor in the development of food allergies in children. Therefore, it is important not only to identify and avoid foods that cause an allergic reaction, but also to take steps to improve overall digestive health.

Food intolerances can often be caused by a lack of certain digestive enzymes. For example, if there is a lack of the enzyme lactase, then the body is not able to absorb lactose from dairy products - and you get a diagnosis of lactose intolerance.

Allergy and intolerance are not the same thing, although these concepts are interrelated, but these problems should be approached differently. You should consult with your doctor to determine what kind of reaction you have to a particular product, as an allergic reaction can be more dangerous than an intolerance.

Arthritis

Poor digestion wreaks havoc throughout the body, with many doctors leaning toward the view that poor digestion is a major factor in arthritis.

Since digestive problems lead to inflammation in the body, inflammation can also affect the joints, causing pain in them. Therefore, medicine is now beginning to consider arthritis as a symptom of poor digestion. The connection between the two diseases has long been recognized in traditional Chinese medicine.

Rheumatoid arthritis (or polyarthritis), a common autoimmune disease now increasingly associated with gut health and intestinal permeability. If foods and toxins can disrupt the permeability of the intestinal tract and enter the body, they can trigger an immune response, causing symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as a host of other diseases such as celiac disease, type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis.

Today, research is focused on learning how autoimmune reactions of this kind can be prevented.

Difficulty maintaining weight

According to experts, weight loss can be a symptom of digestive problems due to the body's inability to fully receive nutrients.

However, some digestive problems, including slow bowel movements, can lead to weight gain. Another observation from gastroenterologists is that patients suffering from acid reflux or stomach ulcers often eat to relieve pain temporarily. This helps because saliva and food neutralize the acid, but once the food has been digested, the pain returns and is even worse as acid production increases.

Bloating caused by poor digestion or food intolerances, and even from medications taken to relieve the symptoms of poor digestion, can also be associated with weight gain.

Candidiasis

Candida is a type of yeast that lives naturally in the gastrointestinal tract. While we need a certain level of this yeast in the intestinal tract, problems arise if it begins to overgrow Candida. A fungal infection has many symptoms - and many of them are related to digestive function.

And indigestion can contribute to the growth of a fungal infection. The acid produced in the digestive tract sterilizes the stomach by killing bacteria and yeast that may be ingested. Therefore, it is very important that the acidity of the stomach remains at an optimal level. However, poor digestion can lead to low levels of stomach acid, which allows bacteria and yeast to enter the intestines, where they multiply and cause health problems.

In general, a healthy diet rich in whole foods, probiotics and fermented foods is the right way to ensure the health and full functioning of the digestive system.

While these symptoms alone do not necessarily indicate a digestive problem, if you have identified several of them, it may be worth considering improving the work of the gastrointestinal tract. And a good idea is to see a doctor to diagnose and treat possible diseases.