Five Signs Your Body Isn't Absorbing Nutrients: Vitamins for Malabsorption

Jan 17, 2023

Alex Brecher

Do you ever have symptoms such as bloating, nausea, or fatigue? Do you know why they happen? It may be that your body is not properly absorbing all of the nutrients you eat. That is known as nutrient malabsorption, and there are many possible causes.

If malabsorption is an issue for you, PatchAid Topical Patches could help because they contain vitamins and minerals but do not depend on your digestive system for absorption.* Be sure to contact your healthcare provider if you are worried about nutrient malabsorption and before taking any nutritional supplements.

Five Signs Your Body Is Lacking Vitamins or Minerals

What might you expect if your body is lacking vitamins or minerals, or if you are having malabsorption? These are five top signs.

You are tired.

Fatigue is an overly common symptom, so it may take a while before you can tie it to malabsorption. Still, there are many ways that nutrient malabsorption can cause fatigue. For example, lack of iron and certain B vitamins can cause low red blood cell counts and shortness of breath and muscle weakness. And, lack of B vitamins, magnesium, or other nutrients may interfere with energy production in your body, making you feel tired.

Other causes of fatigue include lack of adequate sleep, being stressed or feeling sad, and eating a poor diet. Be sure to address these, in addition to any vitamin and mineral deficiencies, for best results.

You have an upset stomach.

This happens to everyone occasionally, but gastrointestinal issues should not be an everyday occurrence. If they are, it could be a sign that you have a malabsorptive disorder. Signs may include the following.

Constipation or diarrhea
Pain in the abdominal area, especially after eating
Vomiting

These signs may be the result of conditions such as exacerbated damage to the GI tract or undigested food in the gut. These can also be signs of other problems, so it is best to talk to a healthcare provider if you experience any of them.

Your hair does not look healthy.

This is not just a question of vanity or how you look. Even though it is made of dead cells, hair can be an accurate indicator of various health issues. Hair that becomes thinner or looks dry or brittle may show that your nutrient levels are down.

You have skin rashes.

Some skin rashes are easily explained, such as if you come into contact with poison ivy. But what if you have skin rashes for no other reason? It is possible that you have nutrient deficiencies. It turns out that skin can often show how healthy your gut is. An autoimmune condition that causes reduced absorption in your gut, for example, could also lead to a skin rash.

You have lost weight.

Many of us want or need to lose weight, but this time, we’re not talking about losing extra pounds. This time, we are talking about unintentional weight loss due to your body being unable to properly absorb macronutrients, which include fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. These are the nutrients that provide your body with energy, measured by calories, and too little of them can lead to weight loss.

If you have trouble absorbing nutrients, your body may not be able to properly absorb fat, protein, or carbohydrates. This can be a direct malabsorption of these nutrients, such as if your body cannot break them down in the digestive tract. Or, it could result from a vitamin or mineral deficiency that leads to your body being unable to use them properly.

Common Causes of Malabsorption

Malabsorption can have many possible causes. These are a few groups of people who may be at risk for nutrient malabsorption and deficiencies of vitamins and minerals.

Older adults tend to have lower levels of stomach acid and this, as well as other changes, can lead to difficulty absorbing calcium, vitamin B12, folic acid, magnesium, and zinc.
People with colitis or Crohn’s disease may have damage to their intestinal walls, with a result that they are less able to absorb nutrients and also have more symptoms.
Celiac disease can lead to damage to the gut, and having gluten or gluten-containing products, such as white or wheat bread, can lead to flare-ups and malabsorption. Also, avoiding grains can further increase the risk for deficiencies of iron and folic acid.
Bariatric surgery patients may have trouble absorbing nutrients due to their procedures.
Fat malabsorption disorders can interfere with the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are fat-soluble.

You can ask your healthcare provider about any concerns. Blood tests can often help detect low levels of some vitamins and minerals. You can also discuss symptoms and ask for diagnostic tests that might help explain your symptoms.

Transdermal Delivery of Nutrients

If your body is having trouble absorbing nutrients, PatchAid Topical Patches are an alternative to oral supplements. Oral supplements, such as capsules, gummies, and tablets, can be troublesome because they may not get absorbed well, just like nutrients from food are not absorbed well. They may even make symptoms worse.

PatchAid Topical Patches have a transdermal delivery system. Nutrients go from the patch across your skin and straight into your bloodstream, so gastrointestinal symptoms are not a concern.

PatchAid Topical Patches come in a wide range of options, and there is sure to be one or more to meet your needs. These are just a few examples.

PatchAid Topical Patches are easy to use. Just peel off the backing and stick the patch on an area of clean and dry skin. Leave it on for up to 8 hours, and repeat the next day. It is okay to use multiple PatchAid Topical Patches at once.

If you have a malabsorption disorder or your body is not absorbing nutrients properly, you may notice a variety of signs or symptoms. Since oral supplements can be ineffective or even make things worse by triggering more symptoms, a transdermal patch may be worth trying. PatchAid Topical Patches do not depend on the digestive process and come in formulations with different types of nutrients you may be missing.* Ask your healthcare provider whether PatchAid Topical Patches may be right to help you overcome nutrient malabsorption.

*The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these statements. PatchAid patches are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Anyone with a medical condition should seek the advice of a licensed medical practitioner. Individual results may vary.