Carbohydrate malabsorption vitamin deficiency
Common Questions and Answers about Carbohydrate malabsorption vitamin deficiency
carbohydrate
Hi there,
I am a 31 year old female recently diagnosed with Dissacharidase Deficiency, otherwise known as carbohydrate malabsorption. According to my gastro, a bad viral infection I acquired almost 18 months ago knocked out only my lactase enzymes, but also the enzymes neccessary to break down sugars, most carbs and all starches. I also became seriously sensitive to fructose, the sugar found in fruit.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is almost always due to malabsorption issues. A common problem is not enough stomach acid (many conditions lower stomach acid from aging to hypothyroidism to taking acid blockers like nexium).
Excerpt from B12 awareness:
"What are the Causes of B12 Deficiency?
I have carbohydrate malabsorption (otherwise known as dissacharidase defficiency). Both are just fancy names for the fact that my body doesn't make enough enzymes to break down and properly absorb carbohydrates.
Like ruffmagruff, i developed this out of the blue after having a bad stomach bug. took about 14 months of being pretty miserable before we figured out what what up. It was a total fluke: i wanted to lose about 10 lbs so i tried the south beach diet.
Psychiatric and neurological are symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. It is unclear why vitamin B12 deficiency leads to prominent neuro-psychological symptoms in some patients and not in others however.
My psychiatric symptoms included depression, irritability, paranoia, mania, psychosis, self harm thoughts, apathy, memory loss (mid stages of dementia), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
However, if a small frame runs in families, then this can also be a contributing factor. Another possibility is vitamin D deficiency, or a bone disease. It would be best if you could get a doctor to examine you and see whether you need investigations. Take care!
Anxiety and OCD are symptoms of serotonin deficiency. I had severe serotonin deficiency due to vitamin B12 malabsorption. My anxiety was really bad due to hypothyroidism and magnesium deficiency. You aren't going to have a heart attack so don't panic. Time to look at WHY you are suffering serotonin deficiency symptoms because you don't have 5 drug deficiencies~!
At your age, doctors should routinely test for a vitamin D deficiency as your skin is now converting less vitamin D from sunlight.
For the past 80 years it was believed that vitamin D3 was only important to the body for regulating calcium and protecting the bones. However hundreds, if not thousands, of studies now show this vitamin (technically a steroid hormone) plays a vital role in health.
Vitamin D deficiency seriously impacts 32 organs especially the heart and bones.
And often this vitamin deficiency is due to malabsorption. Many of us with alopecia have malabsorption and low Vitamin D, but we are also commonly low in other vitamins and iron as well. This is because of a gluten sensitivity. Recent studies have proven that SOME (not all) people completely recover from all illness and hair loss after taking gluten out of their diet. It can take up to a year for improvement.
Good luck!
As it is clear you have malabsorption issues, vitamin K deficiency is highly suspect; vitamin K is needed for blood clotting. I had poor blood clotting myself but in my case was due to B12 malabsorption due to autoimmune pernicious anaemia.
Your other symptoms are listed under B12 deficiency too but can't rule out other causes due to any number of deficiency states or other medical conditions. I'd recommend testing for vitamin D if you haven't already as well.
I had a pretty significant vitamin B deficiency causing megaloblastic anemia and required shots weekly for several months...Also, I have had problems with highs and lows of calcium, iron, and magnesium...I had a hair analysis done which revealed no heavy metal toxicities, but a deficiency in molybnium (? sp), copper, and nickle...and of course, low ferritin (showed in blood tests too)...My doc believes I have a borderline malabsorption problem and a low intrinsic factor...Something inherited...
Low/deficient vitamin B12 is usually due to conditions that cause malabsorption unless you are a vegan/vegetarian. Vitamin B12 sources include fish and shellfish, meat (especially liver), poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products.
Excerpt from "Skin rashes from vitamin B12" by Ed Donner:
"Side effects of B12 supplements are rare, according to Southern Care Healthcare Group, and generally occur with the injections and not with oral supplements.
Signs of Deficient Stomach Acid
Gas, bloating and burping shortly after a meal could be lack of HCl
Constipation
Diarrhea
Feeling of fullness or food not digesting
Heartburn and/or gastric reflux (sometimes too much HCl but most often not enough)
Bad breath
Foul smelling stools
Loose stools in the early morning
Food allergies
Dialated blood vessles on the cheeks and nose - Rosacea
Pernicious anemia or iron deficiency
Anal Itching
Nausea especially after taking vitamins and minerals
Weak or crac
Vitamin D deficiency is a pretty common issue among those with Hep C. There are several threads on this site regarding it. I don't know that there are any "long term effects" from it, as long as you get the levels up to where they should be.
What I am curious about is that your biopsy results those grades/stages are pretty far along - their certainly not minimal - did your doctor not suggest treating this disease?
If you have vitamin B12 deficiency, it is usually due to some condition causing malabsorption. In the case of hypothyroidism, the reason is low stomach acid.
An interesting video to check out on youtube: Four Ways To Diagnose Hypothyroidism - Dr. Hotze's - Health & Wellness Solutions.
Sounds like you are having issues with your memory. I personally had memory loss from vitamin B12 malabsorption, thyroid imbalance and calcium deficiency.
Malabsorption could cause vitamin deficiencies especially fat soluble vitamins like vitamin A. Just one possible thought. The one-eyed color deficit doesn't sound too terribly bad IF the visual acuity and visual field and pupil reactions are normal. Most bad problems cause real loss of vision. The color deficit is curious but among her many other problems I would just keep a watch on it and keep in contact with pediatric ophthalmologist.
Many of your symptoms are listed under a vitamin B12 deficiency but a deficiency takes years to develop. However, worth checking out your vitamin B12 levels. Optimal B12 serum is over 800pg/mL or 600pmol/L. Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are well known to occur in low "normal" reference ranges.
Decreased stomach acid
Atrophic gastritis
Autoimmune pernicious anaemia
Helicobacter pylori
Gastrectomy, intestinal resection
Gastric bypass surgery
Malabsorption syndromes
Crohn's disease
Celiac disease (gluten enteropathy)
Chronic pancreatitis
Bacterial overgrowth (small bowel)
Fish tapeworm
Alcoholism
Malnutrition - eating disorders
Vegetarianism
Advanced liver disease
Transcobalamin II deficiency
Inborn errors of B12 metabolism
Certain drugs (eg: acid blockers)
Nitrous oxide
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