Coprogram can indicate the development of rather dangerous pathologies and conditions. What does the presence of fatty acid s alts in feces indicate? This means that fats are not fully absorbed by the body. And indicates the development of a certain pathology. This state of affairs, when fat, fatty acids are found in the feces, is called steatorrhea. The disease has its causes, symptoms, varieties, methods of diagnosis and treatment. In the article, we will get acquainted with them in detail.
Normal performance
What is the normal level of fatty acid s alts in feces? A he althy body absorbs 90-98% of all fat that enters the body as part of food. As for the norm, the feces should not contain triglycerides (neutral fat), fatty acids. Some residual inclusions may be found in faeces in the form of soaps.
S alts of fatty acids in feces can be detected using a special laboratory study - lipogram. Here, the presence in the feces of both neutral fat and fatty acids and their soaps (s alts) is checked. Research is being carried out in the laboratory.
As for certain numbers, in a he althy person, the mass of fatty acid s alts in feces does not exceed 5 g. In pathological conditions, the content can reach up to 100 g. This indicates the development of steatorrhea. Like many other diseases, it is represented by several varieties.
What is the size of the liver in adults? Normally, the total width is 23-27 cm. As for the length, it is 14-20 cm. The transverse size is 200-225 mm. The average weight of a human organ is 1.5 kg. But normally, the size of the liver in adults can be with the content of fat in the feces. Therefore, a doctor's consultation is necessary. Since the cause of steatorrhea sometimes lies in a completely different problem.
Factors
What are the reasons? Fatty acid s alts in feces is a pathological condition. Specific factors are determined by further diagnostics. Among the most common options are the following:
- Violation of the pancreas. To break down neutral fats in the intestines into fatty acids and glycerol, the pancreas produces a special water-soluble enzyme called pancreatic lipase. In case of violation of the work of this organ, accordingly, there is a deficiency of lipase in the body. Triglycerides are not completely broken down. Why there may be neutral fat in the feces of the patient.
- Bile acid deficiency. With insufficient flow of bile into the intestinal tract, there is a violation of the breakdown and absorption of fats. And these elements are subject to the action of digestive enzymes only if they are instate of thin emulsion. Bile mixes fat masses with water, which is necessary for their further digestion. If there is not enough bile, then the fat drops remain large, so the aqueous solutions of enzymes can no longer mix with them. The consequence of this is the detection of fatty inclusions in the stool.
- Violation of fat absorption in the intestinal tract and its accelerated removal from the body. The food bolus (hummus) moves along the intestinal tract due to the contraction of the intestinal walls. If its motor function is impaired, this leads to accelerated movement and removal of food masses from the intestines. Accordingly, in this state of affairs, fats do not have time to be absorbed completely. This changes the appearance of feces - they become light, grayish, acquire a greasy sheen, a fetid odor that is not characteristic of feces.
- Excessive fat content in the diet. This can also lead to disruption of the small intestine. Especially when using refractory fat - for example, mutton fat.
- A large amount of fatty components in violation of the patency of the lymphatic tract.
- Taking castor oil and other rectal suppositories.
What diseases provoke this?
The causes of steatorrhea can be a variety of diseases. The following can lead to a violation of fat metabolism in the body and, accordingly, the appearance of fatty acids in the feces:
- Disease of the intestinal tract. Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, enteritis, Whipple's disease, amyloidosis, diverticulosis, lymphoma(a type of tumor).
- Liver disease. Hepatitis (alcoholic, chronic or acute), cystic fibrosis, cirrhosis.
- Diseases of the gallbladder and its ducts. Cholangitis, cholelithiasis, cholecystitis in acute and chronic form, giardiasis.
- Diseases of the pancreas. Pancreatitis in acute and chronic form, Zolinger-Ellison syndrome (formation of a tumor that causes loose stools, heartburn, pain, internal bleeding), narrowing of the Wirsung duct (through which pancreatic juice enters the duodenum).
- A number of skin diseases. For example, with eczema, psoriasis, the tissues of internal organs are also affected, which can cause a certain dysfunction of the latter.
- Cholestasis.
- Sclerosing cholangitis.
- Congenital defect of the organ/organs of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Pancreatic insufficiency.
- Alcoholic chronic pancreatitis.
- Dyskinesia of the gallbladder and bile ducts.
- Cardiospasm.
- Celiac disease.
- Hemochromatosis. A hereditary disease in which iron accumulates in the body.
- Excess colonization of the bacterial microflora of the small intestine.
- Biliary dysfunction.
- Wilson-Konoval disease. Hereditary pathology in which copper metabolism is impaired. It manifests itself already at an early age of the patient.
- Enterokinase deficiency.
- Pancreatogenic malabsorption syndrome.
- Condition after resection of the small intestine.
- Cysts, tumors of various origins, localized in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Taking laxativesdrugs, drugs, all kinds of products for weight loss.
Features in children
Steatorrhea in babies develops somewhat differently than in adults. To a greater extent, the causes of this condition in a child are the lack of pancreatic enzymes and the general immaturity of the enzyme system.
Enzymes that take part in the lipid metabolism of a newborn begin to be produced in sufficient volumes only when the child reaches 3 months. Until this time, inadequate digestion of fats will be observed. What is not considered pathological.
But at the same time, s alts of fatty acids in the feces of a baby-baby can be detected even with a defective functioning of the liver. This is in most cases due to genetic disorders. They can be both metabolic and structural in nature.
As for weakened babies, their normal metabolism (metabolism, including fats) is established somewhat later - by 4-5 months of life.
Classification of disease varieties
S alts of fatty acids in the feces of an adult and a child are found in a specific condition - steatorrhea. It can be represented in several ways:
- Alimentary (or food). The abnormal state of the stool is caused by the quality of the patient's nutrition. In this case, his diet is oversaturated with fats. They physically cannot be completely absorbed by the body, so the remains of the elements come out in their pure form. Hence andinclusions of fat in feces. According to statistics, this type of steatorrhea occurs most often.
- Intestinal. Are s alts of fatty acids found in feces? The reason may be in this form of steatorrhea. It is caused by a malfunction of the small intestine. Fatty acids are found due to the fact that they are poorly absorbed and absorbed. The reason for this is the ailments that we presented above. Or an unbalanced diet.
- Pancreatic. This form of the disease is considered the most difficult, since it is no longer the intestine that suffers, but the pancreas. The reason for steatorrhea is that this organ cannot produce enough lipase, which is necessary for the breakdown of fatty acids. The consequence of the condition is a constant liquid stool with inclusions of fat.
Stages of the disease
S alts of fatty acids in feces (single inclusions) are found in various forms of steatorrhea. The disease is divided into three types:
- First, feces contain neutral fats of either vegetable or animal origin.
- With type 2 steatorrhea, exactly s alts of fatty acids (soaps) that can interact with alkalis are found in the feces.
- In type 3 disease, both neutral fats and fatty acid s alts are found in the feces.
Symptoms
With steatorrhea, a person suffers from the symptoms of the disease that caused this condition. But steatorrhea itself is manifested by independent symptoms. In addition to loose stools with various inclusions of fat, this can benext:
- Dry cough.
- General weakness, fatigue.
- Dizziness.
- Nausea, gagging.
- Bloating.
- Burp.
- Permanently dry condition of the mucous membranes - nose, mouth, etc.
- Rumbling sounds in the intestines.
- Persistent thirst (due to dehydration due to illness).
- In some cases, pain in the upper abdomen.
- Frequent stools.
- Thin, sticky stool (due to high content of fatty acid s alts, neutral fat).
- In the feces prominent inclusions of fat. The color of the discharge is grayish, light, with a characteristic sheen.
Complications of the disease
Complications of steatorrhea occur in case of improper treatment or its complete absence. The following may develop:
- Disturbances in the work of the vascular system, heart, genitourinary, endocrine, nervous systems.
- Increasing the permeability of the intestinal barrier.
- Violation of protein metabolism, which leads to weight loss, ascites, a decrease in the amount of total protein in the body.
- Hypovitaminosis. It, in turn, is accompanied by frequent dizziness, pain in the joints and spine, edema, convulsive conditions, dryness, pallor of the mucous membranes, skin itching, decreased visual acuity, delamination of the nails, fragility and dullness of the hair, stomatitis, glossitis, friability of the surfaces of the gums.
Status Diagnosis
If youfound in themselves the characteristic symptoms of steatorrhea, it is necessary to contact a general practitioner, a gastroenterologist. First of all, the specialist will perform diagnostic procedures:
- Visual examination of the patient.
- Questioning the patient about the symptoms, their duration, nutrition, lifestyle, hereditary factor.
- Submitting blood, feces and urine for analysis.
- Ultrasound examination of the peritoneum.
- Colonoscopy.
- Research on radioisotope technology.
The most important diagnostic procedure for steatorrhea is the lipogram. A laboratory study in which feces are checked for the presence of fat, fatty acids and their s alts (soaps). Such an analysis allows you to identify pathologies of the digestive tract (in particular, the pancreas). According to the results of the study, the patient can be diagnosed with:
- Pancreatitis.
- Gastrointestinal tumors - benign and malignant.
- Malabsorption syndrome.
- Intestinal tuberculosis.
- Violation of the secretory functions of the pancreas.
- Violation of the normal outflow of lymph.
- Increased intestinal peristalsis.
The results of the analysis are also affected by the correctness of the collection of material. It is forbidden to do this earlier than 2 days after the X-ray examination with a contrast agent. Three days before collecting feces, they stop taking medications that affect the composition, color, and peristalsis of feces.
Stool should be natural, no enemas or laxatives. On the eve of the submission of the material for analysis fromthe diet excludes foods that color feces, contribute to excessive formation of gases, constipation or, conversely, diarrhea.
Before collecting the material, the bladder is emptied, the hygiene of the genital organs is carried out. To do this, use soap without dyes, flavors, foaming additives.
The material is collected in a dry and clean vessel, from where 20-25 g of feces are separated into a special container. Its contents can be stored in the refrigerator before being tested at a temperature of 3-7 ° C during the day.
Essential Diet
Treatment will be assigned to the patient in accordance with the identified disease. If fat, fatty acids and their s alts are found in the feces, a special diet is also required:
- Exclusion from the diet of fatty, spicy, spicy, smoked and s alty foods.
- Restrictions on the intake of pure fat per day up to 50 g. Best of all, if it is butter.
- Exclusion from the menu of alcoholic, sweet carbonated drinks.
- Switching to lean meat - turkey, rabbit, etc.
- Exclusion from the diet of fatty fish.
- Reduce carbohydrate-rich foods.
- Eating reduced-fat (or fat-free) dairy products.
- Exclusion from the diet of vegetable fats. They are especially rich in legume dishes, a number of semi-finished products.
- It is recommended to give preference to low-fat varieties of fish, vegetable dishes, dairy products.
- Reception of vitamin complexes.
Recommendedfractional meals with 3-hour breaks between meals. The weight of one serving should not exceed 200 g.
Medicated treatment
The treatment regimen is compiled by the doctor individually for the patient - depending on the disease that caused steatorrhea. The symptom itself (fat in the feces) is eliminated by the following drugs:
- Enzymes that improve digestion. Pancreatin, Creon, Pancitrate.
- Absorbent preparations. Enterosgel, Smecta, Atoxil.
- With a high content of fatty acids in faeces, anti-cidal agents are prescribed. They neutralize gastric juice, improve the effect of enzyme drugs on the body. These are Almagel, Gastal, Phosphalugel.
- Maalox pills. The instructions for use for the product say that it is a combination drug for discomfort, heartburn, stomach pain, sour belching, feeling of heaviness, diarrhea, constipation, bloating. It is available in the form of a suspension and chewable tablets. The required form is selected individually. The instructions for use of Maalox tablets also say that the drug should be taken only after consulting a doctor.
Steatorrhea is the content of fatty s alts, their acids and / or neutral fat in the feces. As you can see, there are many reasons for this. The specific one is clarified only when carrying out a comprehensivediagnostics. Based on its results, the doctor draws up a treatment regimen for the patient.
