28/07/2022
Gut malabsorption looks like:
Belching�
Nausea�
Feeling excessively full after meals�
Reflux�
Abdominal pain�
Low appetite�
Weight loss�
Bloating
�Flatulence �
Constipation��
Quite often gut malabsorption is due to problems with vagal innervation to the digestive tract. Causes of vagal nerve damage include surgery, bulimia, anorexia nervosa, trauma, diabetes, infection, pain medication use, hypothyroidism, scleroderma, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease.
Having and not treating Helicobacter pylori infection can also cause a reduction in the production of stomach acid (one of the the big jobs for the vagal nerve is to stimulate acid) as this bacteria releases a substance called urease that changes the pH of the stomach to an alkaline pH. This leads to nutrient malabsorption over time.
Proton pump inhibitors like Nexium, Losec or Somac act in the same way. They are often prescribed for high stomach acid and when taken long term create an alkaline pH that results in nutrient malabsorption. ��
Vagal tone issues left untreated can snowball into more digestive problems like intestinal permeability/leaky gut syndrome, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, damage to the gut microbiome and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
If you struggle with gut health and suspect you experience gut malabsorption book a consultation and start exploring why your signs and symptoms happen so we can treat the cause!