What are the effects of partial gastrectomy versus total gastrectomy on the body’s ability to absorb nutrients?
Post-gastrectomy syndromes entail nutritional intolerances and deficiencies. The intolerances include: • dumping syndrome [see question 5 for more information], • fat maldigestion [the inability to enzymatically break down dietary fats (long-chain triglycerides) into smaller molecules (diglycerides and free fatty acids) that are better absorbed by the small intestine] • gastric stasis [Post-surgically the remaining stomach may lose its normal muscular motility. This hampers the digestive processes that normally occur in the stomach. Also the stomach may not empty properly.] • lactose intolerance [the inability to digest lactose, the sugar found in dairy products. Typically this is caused by a lack of the enzyme lactase in the small intestine. Approximately 70% of the world’s population is naturally lactose intolerant by adolescence. Chronic disease and disruption of normal digestive processes (by gastrointestinal surgery for example) can result in lactose intolerance in a normally tole
