What Are Essential Amino Acids? Amino acids are small molecules, or subunits, that link together in various combinations to make up big, complicated proteins. As such, amino acids are commonly referred to as “the building blocks” of proteins. Q: How ...
Read More »Gluten Sensitive Enteropathy (Active Celiac Disease)
What Is Gluten Sensitive Enteropathy? Gluten sensitive enteropathy is active celiac disease characterized by inflammation of the small intestinal mucosa that results from an inherited immunologic intolerance to ingested gluten. Q: What does the inflammation do to the mucosa in the small ...
Read More »Gas
What Is Obnoxious Gas? Obnoxious gas, or flatus, is gas that is not only offensive when passed but also lingers in the air longer than ordinary gas does. Gas is a natural digestive product within the colon that is composed mainly of ...
Read More »Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Deficiency
What Is Vitamin B3 (Niacin)? Niacin is an essential water-soluble B vitamin that is required by all cells of the body. During digestion of food containing it, niacin (the form in food) is changed in the small intestines to the active form niacinamide (niacin ...
Read More »Kidney Stones (Renal Calculi)
What Are Kidney Stones? Kidney stones, also called renal calculi, are abnormal hard formations in the kidneys that are composed mainly of calcium oxalate, also uric acid, and cystine. Q: How big are kidney stones? A: Stones can vary in ...
Read More »Volvulus
What Is Volvulus? Volvulus is twisting of a loop(s) of bowel onto itself which effectively closes it thus preventing digested matter from passing and causing engorgement of the closed loop with gas and fluid. Q: How does the bowel get ...
Read More »Edema of the Small Intestine
What Is Small Intestinal Edema? Small intestinal edema is characterized by fluid accumulation within the intestinal mucosa so that the intestinal wall appears thick and swollen. Intestinal edema hampers peristalsis that can result in pain and gas build-up. Peristalsis is ...
Read More »Carbohydrate Malabsorption
What Is Carbohydrate Malabsorption? Carbohydrate malabsorption is a digestive disorder characterized by the inability to properly digest and absorb carbohydrates within the small intestine to supply needed energy to the body. Q: What carbohydrates should be normally digested and absorbed? A: In normal ...
Read More »Edema, Small Intestinal: definition
Fluid accumulation within small intestinal mucosa resulting from inflammation that may cause abdominal pain and distention because of hampering peristalsis. Click Small Intestinal Edema for full description.
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