The d-xylose absorption test is useful in the diagnosis of tropical and idiopathic sprue, 1–4 but results are variable in other disorders and in elderly persons without intestinal disease. 5,6 ...

An exciting new study has examined how bacteria in the small intestine help digest and absorb high-fat foods. The novel research suggests that in the future we could potentially combat obesity by ...

To study absorption, two different approaches have been used. In vivo methods, such as measuring the disappearance of a test substance from the gut, its appearance in body fluids or its fecal output, ...

A new preclinical study published in the journal Nature is demonstrating how fructose can alter cells in the small intestine, subsequently enhancing nutrient absorption and promoting weight gain. The ...

Malabsorption refers to the reduced absorption of nutrients from the intestine into the bloodstream. It can affect the body’s ability to absorb all nutrients or some specific types of nutrients.

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) affects how well the small intestine absorbs nutrients. Surgery, medications, and nutritional support are all part of a comprehensive treatment plan for this condition. SBS ...

The human small intestine absorbs nutrients while protecting us from potentially harmful microbes. One of the cell types that ...

Eating healthy does not directly equate to you getting all the nutrients your body needs. Your metabolism, digestion, and the intricate dance of enzymes in the gut are influenced by lifestyle habits ...

Although the vast majority of research on the gut microbiome has focused on bacteria in the large intestine, a new study--one of a few to concentrate on microbes in the upper gastrointestinal ...

A new study -- one of a few to concentrate on microbes in the upper gastrointestinal tract -- shows how the typical calorie-dense western diet can induce expansion of microbes that promote the ...