Steatorrhea Health Dictionary

Steatorrhea: From 1 Different Sources


The presence of undigested fat in the feces. This may be the result of failing to inoculate fatty foods with enough surfactant (biliary “soap”) to digest them, the failure of the lower small intestine to absorb them, or simply too much fat for even normal digestion to handle. Sometimes this can indicate liver, gall bladder or lipid metabolism diseases. Usually the causes are subclinical and treatable with less invasive approaches...like herbs.
Health Source: Herbal Medical
Author: Health Dictionary

Intrinsic Factor

One of two proteins secreted from the lining of the stomach whose sole purpose is (it seems) to cradle B12 in a pre-fitted styrofoam mold and (A) carry it through the Seven Levels of Digestive Hell until it reaches those few absorption sites in the last foot of small intestine that understand its “Special Needs” (sounds either sexually kinky or the airplane dinner label on kosher food for flying Hassidim jewelers) and finally (B) slip it from one protein to the other, and thence into the cell membranes where its is turn handed over to (C) the specialized blood protein that can carry it safely to the final target tissues (3 times out of 4, the bone marrow). Cyanocobalamin (B12) has parts that fall off, radicals that twirl around in five directions on three charge potentials, and is as durable as a 49¢ water pistol. And, if we have an ulcer, chronic enteritis or long-standing steatorrhea, we either get B12 shots (and hope the liver still makes that blood carrier) or walk around with pernicious anemia and a hematocrit of 16.... intrinsic factor



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