Certain medical disorders and health conditions inhibit how efficiently the body absorbs nutrients. With carbohydrate malabsorption, a person experiences gastrointestinal effects like gas, bloating, and diarrhoea after consuming foods containing fibre, starch, and sugar, which are all types of carbohydrates.
Carbohydrate malabsorption can result from a congenital inability to digest carbohydrates, or it can result from damage to the lining of the small intestines, which can be caused by conditions like Crohn’s disease. When there is no underlying cause, doctors will work to identify the specific carbohydrate so the patient can eliminate it from their diet.
Along with avoiding problematic carbohydrates, doctors may recommend an enzyme supplement to patients experiencing carbohydrate malabsorption. Digestive enzymes play a crucial role in the breakdown of food and absorption of nutrients. These enzymes include:
There are non-prescription supplements to ease digestion and relieve health effects like bloating. Doctors can also prescribe enzyme supplements for more serious symptoms.
In the event that carbohydrate malabsorption is linked to a condition like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, treatment of those disorders can improve the body’s ability to digest carbs. In this case, doctors may prescribe medication to reduce inflammation of the bowel, such as mesalamine and olsalazine. Corticosteroids can also offer benefits depending on the area of the bowel affected.
Some people also benefit from immunosuppressant medication, which prevents the immune system from overresponding and releasing chemicals that cause inflammation. If medication is insufficient, doctors will recommend surgery and other procedures to treat inflammatory bowel disease.