Chronic malabsorption diseases such as cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, and Crohn's disease commonly lead to deficiency of which vitamins?

Chronic malabsorption diseases such as cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, and Crohn's disease commonly lead to deficiency of which vitamins?

• A. Fat soluble vitamins
• B. Water soluble vitamins
• C. Vitamin A
• D. Vitamin C

Answer: (A)

Fat-soluble vitamins are the ones most likely to become deficient when fat absorption is impaired. These vitamins (A, D, E, and K) require fat and bile acids to be absorbed in the small intestine, and they are stored in the liver and body fat. Chronic malabsorption disorders such as cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, and Crohn’s disease disrupt fat digestion or absorption—cystic fibrosis reduces pancreatic enzyme release, celiac disease damages the intestinal lining, and Crohn’s disease can involve inflammation of areas crucial for fat absorption and bile-acacid recycling. When fat isn’t absorbed properly, these vitamins aren’t absorbed efficiently and are lost in the stool, leading to deficiencies. Water-soluble vitamins, while they can be affected in severe disease or with poor intake, are not as dependent on fat for absorption, so deficiencies of those vitamins are less characteristic of these conditions. Thus, fat-soluble vitamins are the most commonly deficient in these chronic malabsorption states.

Fat-soluble vitamins are the ones most likely to become deficient when fat absorption is impaired. These vitamins (A, D, E, and K) require fat and bile acids to be absorbed in the small intestine, and they are stored in the liver and body fat. Chronic malabsorption disorders such as cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, and Crohn’s disease disrupt fat digestion or absorption—cystic fibrosis reduces pancreatic enzyme release, celiac disease damages the intestinal lining, and Crohn’s disease can involve inflammation of areas crucial for fat absorption and bile-acacid recycling. When fat isn’t absorbed properly, these vitamins aren’t absorbed efficiently and are lost in the stool, leading to deficiencies.

Water-soluble vitamins, while they can be affected in severe disease or with poor intake, are not as dependent on fat for absorption, so deficiencies of those vitamins are less characteristic of these conditions. Thus, fat-soluble vitamins are the most commonly deficient in these chronic malabsorption states.