Fatty stool in an adult: causes. Steatorrhea (fatty stool): causes and symptoms, treatment and prevention of the disease Why stool is fatty

16.06.2022 | Orthopedic products

When it lasts for a long time, it disrupts the most important functions of the body. This is due to the fact that fats are participants in many biochemical processes in the cell. When more than 5 g of fats are excreted per day in feces, a deficiency develops in the body, and pathological processes are launched that are dangerous to human health.

Types of disease

Pancreatic, caused by dysfunction of the pancreas, in particular due to insufficient secretion of the lipase enzyme responsible for the breakdown of fats.
Intestinal, which occurs when the absorption properties of the intestine are impaired.
Nutritional or nutritional, developing with excessive consumption of fatty foods that the gastrointestinal tract is not able to digest.

According to another classification, steatorrhea is divided into categories depending on what is contained in the stool:

neutral fats;
soaps and fatty acids;
mixed set of exchange products.

Symptoms of steatorrhea

With adequate nutrition and general well-being, steatorrhea is accompanied by the following symptoms:

frequent, copious and loose stools, although constipation is also possible;
lethargy;
dry cough;
cracks in the corners of the mouth;
pale lips;
bleeding gums;
bright language;
stomatitis;
dizziness;
dry mucous membranes;
sudden weight loss;
rumbling in the intestines.

In addition, a person is tormented by thirst, not associated with eating salty foods or playing sports.

Consequences

Without treatment, long-term steatorrhea leads to a deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins: K, E, D and A, without which:

vision deteriorates;
hair becomes brittle and dull;
nails peel;
dry skin itches.

Without timely and proper treatment, steatorrhea causes pathologies in the nerves, genital area, urinary system, endocrine glands, heart and blood vessels. “Remote” disorders include swelling, insomnia, tachycardia, etc.

Etiology of the condition

Oily stool occurs when there are problems with the breakdown and absorption of lipids, which directly depends on the enzymes in pancreatic juice that process incoming nutrients or prepare them for subsequent transformations.

Sticky feces are formed due to the abuse of laxatives, as well as as a result of a special diet, when feces move so quickly through the intestinal tract that they do not have time to be digested and absorbed. Dietary habits include excessive amounts of fat in food, frequent overeating, and a passion for spicy seasonings, which stimulate the digestive canal and thereby disrupt its normal functioning.

The most common causes of frequent and fatty stools in adults include a chronic form of pancreatitis - an inflammatory process in the pancreas that disrupts the function of the most important organ - secreting pancreatic juice, saturated with enzymes for digesting nutrients, including triglycerides.

The sign may indicate stagnation of bile in the gallbladder, as well as the presence of acute or chronic problems with the liver and small intestine.

The symptom of not flushing feces from the toilet can appear if a person abuses anti-obesity drugs, for example, Orlistat, which is also known under other trade names:

With their long-term use, it is possible to disrupt the processes of fat metabolism, which are not restored even after the end of the treatment course with their use.

Fatty stool in an adult can result from:

Systemic dermatoses, in which, in addition to the skin, internal organs are also affected. This type of diarrhea occurs in patients suffering from lichen planus or eczema.
Pathologies in the functioning of the endocrine glands, such as hyperthyroidism or Addison's disease.
Genetic diseases that impair the absorption and transfer of triglycerides.

Steatorrhea during pregnancy

The condition may occur in later stages. The causes of fatty stool should be sought in cholestasis, that is, a violation of the outflow of bile due to the pressure of the enlarged uterus on the gallbladder. In this case, the woman’s stool is discolored and foul-smelling, and the mucous membranes are yellowish.

Violation of vitamin absorption during pregnancy leads to problems:

With blood clotting and possible bleeding during labor.
In the development of the musculoskeletal system of the fetus.
Deterioration of visual acuity in mother and child, as well as dry skin and mucous membranes.

You can help a pregnant woman with the help of medications, folk remedies and diet therapy.

Diagnostics

The search for the causes of steatorrhea begins with a detailed examination, including the doctor’s clarification of the patient’s dietary habits and lifestyle. The doctor will need the results of tests of feces, urine, blood and instrumental diagnostics (MRI, ultrasound, fluoroscopy, rectoscopy, radioisotope studies, etc.). With a long course of the disease, additional diagnostic measures are required, the purpose of which is to identify and evaluate possible complications that often occur with disorders of fat metabolism.

Possible complications

Impaired absorption capacity of the intestine leads to the following conditions:

Protein deficiency.
Imbalance of electrolytes, resulting in cramps, dry mucous membranes, swelling, and incessant thirst.
Oxaluria in the form of insoluble stones consisting of oxalates and capable of clogging the urinary tract and kidneys.
Pathologies of the brain, respiratory system, heart and kidneys.
Neuroses in which the patient has mental problems, for example, difficulty communicating, decreased performance, sleep disturbances.

Therapy

Treatment must be timely, using the correct therapeutic approach. It is not steatorrhea that is treated, but the underlying provoking disease.

The doctor prescribes medications containing lipase. They are covered with a shell that protects them from stomach enzymes. Patients take:

Antacids are prescribed to neutralize hydrochloric acid:

With them, enzyme therapy is much more effective.

Prescription of Cortisone, hydrochloric acid and adrenocorticotropic hormone with parallel control of ketosteroids, which are supported by protein intake.

Diet therapy

The nutritionist creates prescriptions on an individual basis, taking into account the causes of the condition, the severity of the underlying pathology, and additional symptoms.

exclusion of spicy, fried and fatty foods;
refusal of alcohol;
drinking plain water instead of sweet soda.

The following animal proteins are allowed:

lean varieties of fish and meat that are best boiled;
low-fat fermented milk products instead of whole milk.

Mandatory vitamin therapy with the prescription of vitamins B5 and B12, as well as fat-soluble vitamins K, E, D and A.

Prevention

To avoid the development of steatorrhea, you should:

Enrich your diet with animal proteins instead of soybeans and other legumes.
Eliminate foods containing gluten from your diet.
Bring sugar intake to moderate doses.

Secondary prevention, which is carried out after the development of a pathological condition, involves timely therapy to get rid of the underlying disease, for example, intestinal infections using antibacterial agents.

The disease will not occur if you prevent diseases that provoke steatorrhea, organize a balanced diet with a moderate amount of fatty foods, with plenty of proteins and vitamins. With timely treatment, the disease goes into stable remission and practically does not bother the person.

Conclusion

Fatty stool with a constant urge to defecate is not the norm. To avoid life-threatening consequences, you should promptly pay attention to this symptom and take action.

Stool consistency, its norm, reasons for deviation from the norm

The consistency of feces is an important indicator of coprogram, which reflects the work of not only the intestines, but also the liver and pancreas.

Normal feces have a soft, shaped consistency, which reflects the content of liquid, fiber and fat, as well as the correct ratio of their amounts.

Why does the consistency of stool change?

With constipation, the consistency of stool becomes dense and most often appears as a hard, fragmented appearance. This may indicate a violation of intestinal digestion, when excessive absorption of fluid occurs in the colon. It is important to pay attention to the number of episodes of visiting the toilet during the week, as well as the process of defecation itself. People with this symptom complex often complain of difficulty and sometimes the impossibility of complete bowel movement, excessive gas formation and intoxication, which undoubtedly reduces performance and quality of life.

With diarrhea of various origins, the feces become watery or mushy, and the number of episodes of the act of defecation itself increases. In this case, there is insufficient absorption of fluid and microelements in the intestine. In addition, there is also excessive secretion of fluid in the small intestine. This situation most often occurs with foodborne toxic infections, when the body tries to independently remove pathological agents and reduce intoxication. However, we should not forget about the insufficiency of the intestinal absorption function, which is called a symptom of malabsorption. This symptom can be either congenital or acquired due to various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

The next factor influencing changes in the consistency of stool is diseases of the pancreas, which manifest as an ointment-like appearance of stool. Diseases such as pancreatitis and pancreatic secretory insufficiency lead to a decrease in the number of enzymes involved in normal digestion, which leads to an increase in fat content in the stool. This is manifested by a sticky, pasty-like appearance of stool that is difficult to flush from the toilet.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Naturopathic Treatment

Frequent cramping abdominal pain, flatulence, as well as constant alternation of constipation and liquid, often mushy, shapeless stools are characteristic symptoms of a disease that affects more and more people. Irritable bowel syndrome (irritable bowel syndrome), or, in the language of experts, Colin irritable, can become a real torment for the patient.

Official medicine often views this disease as caused by mental factors. Unresolved conflicts, neurotic developmental disorders or depression - this is often what the final “diagnosis” looks like when not a single study helps establish anything. But no matter how comforting the judgments of modern medicine may be, for many patients this is not true. Irritable bowel syndrome has specific organic causes!

Beginning - indigestion

Violation of intestinal self-cleansing mechanisms

Pasty stool. The softness of this shapeless stool is explained by the fact that it is loosened by the resulting gases. Many people consider mushy stools, which often have the appearance of flakes, to be normal for them.

Make sure to maintain the acid-base balance in your body. Take enough bases in your diet to ensure your metabolism has enough material to produce digestive enzymes.

Take bases in the form of an alkaline powder. This will help your body produce more digestive juices for optimal digestion of food.

Avoid unhealthy, acidic foods, such as white refined sugar and its processed products: marmalade, cakes, chocolate, confectionery, ice cream and sugar-containing lemonades, as well as sweet liqueurs.

To sweeten food, use natural products - honey, maple syrup or thick pear juice. But don't forget that everything is good in moderation!

If you really want something sweet, eat some fresh fruit or a little dried fruit. This will accustom you to the perception of natural tastes.

Eat raw plant foods in small portions and chew them especially well. Do not eat such food in the evening. At night it will not be properly processed and will begin to ferment.

Eat calmly and chew your food thoroughly! The enzymes in saliva begin to process it. The more intensely you chew, the better your salivary glands work and the more enzymes your saliva contains. And the smaller the pieces of food that reach your intestines, the easier it is for digestive juices to completely digest them. As a result, the processes of fermentation and rotting will be insignificant.

Avoid vegetables that make your stomach bloat, such as legumes (peas, beans, lentils) and cabbage. Although they, like all vegetables in general, are alkaline foods, the fiber contained in their cell membranes is difficult to break down by digestive juices. Undigested residues cause severe fermentation in the lower intestines, which results in unpleasant flatulence. In addition, acidic metabolic products are formed, leading to painful inflammation of the intestinal wall.

Avoid carbonated drinks. “Quiet” mineral water is much healthier. During meals, do not drink a lot of liquid so as not to “dilute” digestive juices.

Take care of good digestion. Chronic constipation due to increased decomposition processes causes inflammation in the intestines. Good digestion is the first step to getting rid of your ailments.

Naturopathic Treatment for Irritable Bowel

Fennel - 30 g
Cumin (crushed) - 30 g
Coriander fruits - 30 g
Chamomile flowers - 10 g

2 teaspoons of the mixture per 250 ml of boiling water, leave for about 8 minutes, drink 1 glass half an hour before meals. If it is not possible to prepare tea, the corresponding extracts can be consumed in the form of drops. For example, a completely tested ready-made drug is Carminativum Hetterich. Along with mint and chamomile extracts, it contains extracts of fennel, cumin and orange peel.

Homeopathy. Asa foetida (smelly ferula) D6. Severe flatulence due to chronic constipation. Cramping pain in the abdomen. The stool may be watery and foamy, or dark brown, sticky, and thick. In any case, its smell is extremely unpleasant and even stinking.

Acupuncture. In Chinese medicine, the picture of irritable bowel complaints is viewed in two ways: as a lack of vitality (lack of “Qi”) in the functional circle “spleen - pancreas” and as a violation of the free flow of energy along the liver meridian.

Managing Symbiosis

Taking strengthening medications containing natural intestinal bacteria restores the ecological balance in the intestines. At the same time, the surviving beneficial microflora receives, so to speak, “support from above.” Suitable drugs:

DYSBACTERIOSIS AND OTHER POSSIBLE CAUSES OF STICKY FEEL AND INCOMPLETE EMPTY

The onset of the disease is March of this year. There was incomplete bowel movement, discomfort in the rectum, aching pain and a feeling of fullness in the sacral area. Feces containing undigested food particles, very sticky and in the form of a semi-formed ribbon. The sacrum only hurts when the rectum is full. I started visiting doctors.

First of all, I turned to a NEUROLOGIST and did an MRI of the lumbosacral and thoracic spine. They found a small protrusion of 0.3 cm and perineural cysts up to 0.8 cm. The neurologist said that clinically such small sizes of protrusion and cysts cannot manifest themselves in any way, but still recommended consulting with a neurosurgeon. She tentatively diagnosed coccydynia and sent her to a manuologist.

An osteopathic manuologist saw my pelvic organ dysfunction and relaxation of the ligamentous apparatus. She prescribed special gymnastics. I went to do physical therapy.

The neurosurgeon very carefully collected an anamnesis and recommended that I undergo another MRI, since I agreed with the neurologist that such minor deviations cannot cause such problems with stool. I had it done at another medical institution, but they didn’t see anything new. The neurosurgeon threw up his hands and suggested doing a diagnostic and therapeutic blockade with diprospan and lidocaine. They say, coccydynia is most likely, and the blockade should help. I did. No changes. He prescribed a course of magnetic therapy and acupuncture. Went through all of this.

I do a COLONOSCOPY, where an adenomatous-hyperplastic polyp of 0.5 cm in the ascending colon is discovered and removed (histology shows a low degree of dysplasia). It didn’t get any easier, there were zero changes. FGDS without pathology.

I go to ANOTHER PROCTOLOGIST in a month, she looks at me with a sigmoidoscope and doesn’t see anything criminal. He honestly says that he doesn’t see any proctological problems. Diagnoses IBS, relieves coccydynia (manual rectal pressure on the tailbone, does NOT hurt at all). By that time, there was no longer a trace of the fissure and hemorrhoids, since recently I have been evacuating feces manually. Sent to a GYNECOLOGIST. Ultrasound shows small foci of endometriosis, nothing more criminal. The cycle is normal, no pain. Two gynecologists do not see inflammation manually. I do an MRI of the female organs, it happened on the 22nd day of the cycle, they diagnosed salpingo-oophoritis, which was very surprising. The gynecologist asks to do a repeat ultrasound in another cycle on days 5-7 of the cycle, everything is OK there.

None of our doctors send you for tests. I take a clinical blood test myself, a coprogram, tumor markers CA 125, CA 19-9. The tumor markers are excellent, the clinic is even better: ESR 2 mm/h, leukocytes 7.5 when the norm is 3.5-9, hemoglobin 130, all other blood elements are also normal.

Coprogram: modified muscle fibers +++, unchanged muscle fibers +, digestible fiber ++, indigestible fiber ++, extracellular starch ++, fatty acids +

I take a detailed three-fold test for helminthiasis and protozoa. Nothing found.

I decided to do a dysbacteriosis test myself:

Bifidobacteria reduced to 10*7

E/coli typical 10*6

E/coli hemolytic 10*6

Other opportunistic enterobacteria 10*4

All other indicators are normal. Diagnosis: dysbacteriosis of the 1st degree, characterized by a reduced content of bifidobacteria, typical E-coli, an increased number of hemolytic E-coli, UPE.

I’m going with all the examinations to a GASTROENTEROLOGIST. At the appointment I understand that they want to send me once again to a neurologist, proctologist, gynecologist, etc. The doctor says that if the feces do not pass out on their own, then a proctologist should solve this problem. I ask a reasonable question, who should deal with indigestible food, coprograms and the treatment of dysbacteriosis?? He answers, well... we’ll prescribe treatment for dysbiosis, but something caused it in the first place, we need to look for the cause.

My question is how to find the very reason that is missing in my examination? Now I have been prescribed Creon, Trimedat, Noroflorin B, and therapeutic exercises. (which I’ve been doing since April to no avail). I follow a diet, it has no effect on the problem. I eat everything after heat treatment, porridge with water, steamed cutlets, fish... Since March, I have received consultations from THREE gynecologists, TWO proctologists, TWO neurologists, a neurosurgeon, an osteopathic chiropractor, a gastroenterologist, a therapist and a surgeon, I have undergone a bunch of examinations and even dealt with the place has not moved. Over the past week, problems with stool have been supplemented by pain in the left side, although not constant, throbbing.

Incomplete emptying of the rectum. Literally. A little came out, the rest had to be removed.

Sticky stool, sometimes ribbon-like, sometimes cork-like (at first a thick portion, then vice versa).

When the intestine is full, the sacrum begins to hurt. That is, the pain is NOT during bowel movements, but long before it.

Could this be dysbacteriosis, as an independent disease, caused, for example, by errors in nutrition (before I got sick, I was very fond of bread ). Are antibiotics or bacteriophages indicated for my increase in hemolytic E-coli? I have been taking Creon and bifido drugs for two weeks. The first three or four days it became a little better, but now I don’t notice any improvement.

What additional examination would you recommend for me? What reasons can cause a change in the qualitative composition of feces? They thought it was the pancreas, but no.. By the way, I also passed biochemistry and sugar... EVERYTHING IS NORMAL, except for B-lipoproteins (58 units).

You should not trust the pathologist. It is a common myth that a pathologist is the best diagnostician! It’s just that no one checks the pathologist. His verdict is final!

In terms of additional examination, one cannot do without a stool test for elastase-1 and an analysis for antibodies to tissue transglutaminase classes A and G (or to endomysium).

Once you receive your answer, don’t forget to rate it (“rate the answer”). I am grateful to everyone who considered it possible and necessary to evaluate the answer!

Hello, Natalia! Quite a bit of time has passed. How are you feeling? Tell me, please. I completely agree with Alexander Yuryevich! Here a consultation with a psychiatrist or psychotherapist is necessary. You have been visiting doctors for several months, I have been visiting doctors for several years, and I myself am a doctor (but a dentist), and only now, several years later, I find out that here it is necessary to treat the head. I spent so many young years pushing, how many friends I threw away. It’s impossible to say in a fairy tale, nor to describe it with a pen. And this takes into account that I am in Moscow, and have been to eminent doctors and in eminent centers. And the result. Search for new and new doctors. Now I am looking for a good psychotherapist.

What happens in the body, or what do poops say?

Feces are all that remains of food eaten after the body has taken all the nutrients it needs. You DO need to go to the toilet in large quantities, as this is a natural way to get rid of waste. The color, shape, and smell of poop can tell you what's going on in your body.

Sausage-shaped, smooth and soft

Optimal view! Everything is fine!

You lack fiber and fluid. Drink more water, eat more fruits and vegetables.

Watery, without dense lumps, liquid

You have diarrhea! Possibly caused by some kind of infection, in which case diarrhea is the body's way of getting rid of pathogens. You are advised to drink plenty of fluids to replenish fluid losses, otherwise dehydration may begin!

Sausage-shaped, but lumpy

Not as serious as in the case of “sheep feces,” but it is better to increase the amount of liquid you drink per day and the fiber you eat as part of your food.

Soft, small feces with clear edges

Not too bad. Within normal limits if you walk “large” several times a day.

Sausage-shaped, but with cracks on the surface

This is normal, but cracks mean you need to increase the amount of fluid you drink.

Spready stool with fuzzy edges

Borders on normal, but may become diarrhea.

Soft, stick-shaped stool sticking to the sides of the toilet

Having too much fat means that the body does not absorb it properly. This can occur, for example, with chronic pancreatitis.

Everything is fine. Stool is usually brown in color due to bile produced in the liver.

Food may be moving too quickly through the colon. Other possibilities: You ate a lot of green leafy vegetables or green food coloring.

This color may indicate that there is internal bleeding due to an ulcer or cancer. Some medications containing iron and bismuth subsalicylate may also turn stool black. Pay special attention if it is sticky, and consult a doctor if it bothers you.

Light, white or clay colors

If this is not what you usually see in the toilet, it may indicate a bile duct obstruction. Taking certain medications can also cause stool to be too light in color. Consult your doctor.

Fatty, foul-smelling, or bright yellow stool indicates excess fat. This may be due to a fat absorption disorder such as celiac disease.

Red or bloody

Blood in the stool can be a symptom of cancer, so consult a doctor immediately.

Some facts about feces

Eaten food usually spends 1-3 days in the human body until it turns into feces.

Feces consist of undigested food, bacteria, mucus and dead cells, which is why it has such a specific smell.

Healthy feces sink slowly.

How often should you go big?

On average, people relieve themselves once or twice a day, but some do it more often and some less often. According to doctors, there is no norm for going to the toilet if you feel normal.

To avoid problems with bowel movements

Eat foods high in fiber (20-25 g, for example, 1 apple contains approximately 4 g of fiber, 1 pear - 5 g of fiber), drink more clean water, exercise regularly or exercise.

If you have constipation, introducing a large amount of fiber into your diet will help.

Drinking enough water makes it easier for stool to move through the rectum.

When to see a doctor?

If for the first time you see something wrong in your stool, not the same as usual, do not rush to panic. Watch. If this happens again, talk to your doctor. Pay attention to what exactly your body is “telling” you, and if something really bothers you, do not put off visiting a doctor.

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Why does mushy stool occur and how to get rid of it?

At least once in their life, every person has encountered mushy stool. A single appearance of such a symptom does not pose a threat. However, if this symptom is repeated day after day, then this is a serious reason to think about your health and visit a doctor for a quality diagnosis.

What is mushy stool?

In every healthy person, feces are formed in the large intestine under certain conditions. With normal functioning of the digestive system, the stool is soft but formed. However, if for some reason a malfunction occurs, the feces acquire a characteristic mushy consistency. If such a symptom is the result of an error in diet, then you should not worry, as this is considered a variant of the norm. However, with daily and frequent bowel movements that result in mushy stools, you should think about a more serious reason.

Varieties: for a long time, frequent, with mucus, in the morning and others

Depending on additional conditions, the following types of this symptom can be distinguished:

Pasty stools for a long time and accompanied by flatulence. Can appear at any time. Most often accompanied by various gastrointestinal pathologies.
Frequent. In this case, emptying can occur more than 3 times a day.
Appears in the morning. May be accompanied by nausea and other digestive disorders.
With mucus. Mucous streaks may be present in sufficient quantities in the stool.
Thick with particles of undigested food. Pasty stools may be patchy and have a porous structure. Quite often contains some food fragments.

Causes and provoking factors in adults and children

The main reasons why mushy stool may occur:

Errors in diet. When consuming large amounts of plant foods, some changes in the structure of stool may occur.
Gastroduodenitis. When the duodenum and the pyloric zone of the stomach become inflamed, digestion becomes incomplete, as a result of which mushy stool can form.
Taking medications. Changes in the structure of stool can occur when treated with certain medications. These include Enterol, broad-spectrum antibiotics, glucocorticoids, and choleretic drugs.
Pancreatitis. During inflammatory processes in the pancreas, an insufficient amount of enzymes is often released for proper digestion of food. As a result, mushy stool is formed.
Cholecystitis. Inflammation of the gallbladder associated with stagnation of secretions can lead to a similar symptom.
Decreased appetite. A meager intake of food into the body provokes the formation of mushy stools.
Inflammatory processes in the intestines. Pathologies of this nature lead to underformation of feces. As a result, absorption in the small intestine deteriorates, and there are not enough enzymes for digestion.
Dysbacteriosis. An insufficient amount of beneficial microflora gives rise to similar symptoms.

Diagnostic measures

A timely approach to diagnosis is extremely important to determine the cause and eliminate symptoms. Basic research methods:

Questioning the patient. It is carried out in order to eliminate errors in the diet. The doctor asks the patient about medications taken that could cause changes in stool.
FGDS. Endoscopic examination of the stomach and duodenum is carried out by probing. In this case, a thin tube with an optical device at the end is inserted into the esophagus and from there moves towards the stomach and duodenum. In this case, areas of inflammation and other changes in the mucous membrane are determined.
Colonoscopy. Similar to the previous method, only in this case the probe is inserted through the rectum. In this way, pathologies of the large and small intestines are diagnosed.
Ultrasound. Ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity can detect diseases of the pancreas and gall bladder.

Drug treatment

If the cause of mushy stool is gastroduodenitis, then the doctor most often prescribes drugs that regulate gastrointestinal motility and drugs that help restore the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum. Such medications include Omez, Nolpaza, Emanera. A drug that affects motor function, Trimedat is able to influence both too fast and, conversely, slow peristalsis, regulating the movement of the food bolus.

For pancreatitis, medications are prescribed that can compensate for enzyme deficiency. These include Mezim, Pancreatin and Creon. Thanks to them, food is better digested and the stool is slightly firmer. If acalculous cholecystitis is present, then a diet is indicated. Prescribing choleretic drugs during exacerbation of symptoms can only worsen the course of the pathology.

For inflammatory bowel diseases, drugs that regulate the functioning of this organ are indicated. Most often, the doctor prescribes Pepsan-R. This drug relieves inflammation and reduces excess gas formation, as well as Kolofort, which regulates intestinal function.

When dysbiosis is present, the best treatment is a prebiotic containing beneficial bacteria. These products include: Linex, Hilak Forte and others. They promote the proliferation of beneficial microflora in the intestines.

Drug treatment - photo gallery

Diet food

Diet for mushy stools plays a decisive role. Sometimes, by changing your diet, you can quickly and permanently eliminate the problem. First of all, it is necessary to reduce the amount of plant food consumed, which accelerates peristalsis and forms liquid stool. It is necessary to include in the diet:

Diet food - photo gallery

Folk remedies

Traditional methods of treatment can be used as an auxiliary way to eliminate this symptom. To do this, use herbs that affect the functioning of the intestines. The most effective recipes:

A decoction based on chamomile and oak bark. This remedy not only regulates the intestines, but also strengthens the stool. It will take 1 tsp. listed ingredients that need to be placed in a saucepan and pour 500 ml of boiling water and cook for 15 minutes. Then let stand for another 2 hours and strain. Take a quarter glass 2 times a day 30 minutes before meals for a week.
Mint tea. Additionally you will need St. John's wort. It is necessary to mix both herbs and 1 tbsp. l. pour 400 ml of boiling water over the resulting mixture. Let stand for 25 minutes and then filter, taking 2-3 times a day a quarter of an hour before meals for 10 days.
Chicory decoction. You will need 2-3 sprigs, which must be poured with 350 ml of boiling water and cooked over low heat for 10 minutes. After this, drain the liquid and divide it into 3 doses. The product should be taken 15–20 minutes before meals for 5 days.

Folk remedies - photo gallery

Treatment prognosis and consequences

As a rule, in the presence of pasty stools that are not burdened by additional symptoms, the prognosis is good. With timely diagnosis and treatment, recovery occurs fairly quickly. One of the most dangerous consequences is severe pathologies of the pancreas, in which self-digestion of the organ can occur and the production of enzymes will completely stop. In addition, advanced gastroduodenitis and liver diseases are fraught with the appearance of ulcerative lesions.

With constant mushy stool, a large amount of fluid is lost, which can ultimately lead to dehydration. This symptom cannot be ignored.

Prevention measures

The main preventive measure is the early detection of inflammatory diseases of the digestive system. To do this, at the first signs of pathology, you need to consult a doctor. If blood is accidentally found in the stool, then under no circumstances should you postpone a visit to a specialist.

Additional preventative measures:

regular and proper nutrition;
active lifestyle;
adequate fluid intake;
exclusion of products containing trans fats.

Pasty stools, which occur quite often, cause a lot of discomfort. To get rid of this symptom, it is recommended to approach treatment comprehensively. Sometimes it is enough to adjust the diet and the problem disappears without additional methods of therapy.

The material is published for informational purposes only and under no circumstances can it be considered a substitute for medical consultation with a specialist in a medical institution. The site administration is not responsible for the results of using the posted information. For questions of diagnosis and treatment, as well as prescribing medications and determining their dosage regimen, we recommend that you consult a doctor.

In a healthy person, oils are almost completely absorbed from food. When overeating and dysfunction of the digestive organs, part of the consumed fat is excreted from the body. Fatty acids in the stool of an adult are symptoms of a pathology called steatorrhea. In this case, the chair becomes shiny in appearance, covered with a shiny film. The patient may be bothered by frequent bowel movements, and constipation is less common. The stool becomes grayish or whitish in color, smells unpleasant, and is excreted in excess quantities.

What do fatty acids in stool indicate?

Triglycerides and fatty acids appear in feces when they are insufficiently broken down or are rapidly eliminated. Failure of the digestive processes is usually associated either with insufficient secretory activity of the pancreas, or with a violation of the synthesis of bile acids and their entry into the intestines. Neutral fat in the feces of an adult can be located inside the connective tissue. This happens when there is a lack of hydrochloric acid, which is produced by the gastric glands.

Salts of fatty acids (soaps) are formed when fats bind with calcium, magnesium, and sodium ions. They can be found in coprogram with blockage or spasm of the bile ducts, as well as with fermentation of feces inside the intestines.

Lack of bile in the intestines also affects the absorption of fats. Lipids enter the digestive tract in the form of droplets, and enzymes are required for their absorption. For the emulsification process to occur, the presence of bile acids is necessary. Lack of bile leads to only partial digestion of fatty components, the other part comes out unchanged.

If more than 5 g of fat is excreted in the feces per day, steatorrhea is diagnosed.

Types of steatorrhea

Pathology manifests itself in several forms:

Pancreatic. The main reason for oily stools is a lack of lipase, a fat-breaking enzyme. The stool becomes profuse, oily, and grayish in color. It contains a large number of drops of neutral fat and needles of fatty acids.
Nutritional. If a person eats too many oils and refractory animals, his intestines are not able to cope with their processing. This is the most common reason that fatty acids appear in stool. The alimentary form can develop due to poisoning with products containing triglycerides.
Intestinal. With this form, the hydrolysis of fats in the upper intestines is disrupted.

There is a classification of steatorrhea according to the type of substances released:

Type 1 – there is an excess of triglycerides in the stool;
2 - predominantly fatty acids and clumps of saponified fat are found in the coprogram;
mixed type - feces contain all fatty components - triglycerides, fatty acids, soaps.

Causes of fat accumulation

If fatty acids are found in feces, what does this mean? Steatorrhea is caused by functional or morphological insufficiency of the digestive glands, rapid evacuation of chyme from the intestine. In any case, you need to find out the reasons for fatty stools and not put off visiting a doctor. After all, oily feces can be both a sign of overeating and a symptom of serious illnesses.

Here is a list of possible pathologies:

Diseases of the pancreas: pancreatitis of various origins, narrowing of the duct that connects the gland to the intestines, tumors.
Liver diseases: cirrhosis, cystic degeneration, fatty degeneration, hepatitis of any origin, Wilson-Konovalov disease (hereditary pathology associated with the accumulation of copper ions in the body), tumors.
Diseases of the gallbladder and its ducts: cholelithiasis, tumors, sclerosis, cholecystitis, the presence of Giardia.
Intestinal diseases: chronic inflammation, removal of part of the intestine, diverticulosis, enteritis.

Absorbed fats travel through the lymphatic pathways into the bloodstream. Impaired lymphatic drainage can cause steatorrhea. Develops in pathologies such as lymphadenitis of mesenteric nodes, tumor degeneration.

Accelerated intestinal motility leads to impaired lipid absorption. In this case, the chyme does not have time to be processed by enzymes and bile, and as a result, crystals of fatty acids are found in the feces. With intestinal dyskinesia, other elements are found in the feces: fiber, starches, muscle fibers.

Excessive amounts of needles and fatty acid salts indicate damage to the intestinal tract. The abundance of neutral fat is more characteristic of pancreatic pathology and impaired bile secretion.

Some skin diseases (psoriasis, eczema) negatively affect the functioning of internal organs, which leads to the appearance of steatorrhea. A common cause of fatty stools in adults is the constant use of laxatives and diet pills.

Symptoms

Symptoms of damage to the digestive system come to the fore:

flatulence;
loose or unstable stools, constipation;
nausea;
an abundance of feces;
discomfort in the abdomen: gurgling, transfusion, pain.

With steatorrhea, the stool becomes shiny in appearance and contains undigested food lumps. It is difficult to remove from the walls of the toilet.

Since fats are not absorbed and do not enter the cells, a person rapidly loses weight. Along with lipids, other nutrients such as proteins and carbohydrates leave the body. With prolonged steatorrhea, protein deficiency may develop. The absorption of vitamins is also impaired: group B, fat-soluble vitamins A, E, K, D.

A lack of important elements leads to the development of anemia, dry skin, stuck lips, blurred vision, immune system failure, weakness and poor health. The patient develops stomatitis, the papillae on the tongue become inflamed, and the teeth and gums suffer.

Stool donation procedure

A coprogram, a stool analysis that allows one to evaluate the functional functioning of the digestive system, helps to clarify the diagnosis. Previously, the patient was asked to follow a special diet before undergoing coprogram. This has now been abandoned. A person eats in the usual way.

Before donating feces, it is important to exclude medications that affect intestinal motility - laxatives, consolidating drugs. You should not take medications that contain bismuth or iron the day before, as they change the color of stool and make diagnosis difficult.

It is prohibited to take feces obtained after administering an enema or rectal suppositories to the laboratory. There should be no foreign impurities in the stool - traces of urine, mucus from the genitals, particles of household chemicals. It is most convenient to collect feces in a container specially prepared for this purpose, or attach a plastic bag to the toilet.

The collected feces are placed in a plastic container with a lid, which is sold in pharmacies. The biomaterial should be delivered to the laboratory as soon as possible. If it is not possible to immediately examine feces, they can be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 3-7°, but not more than a day.

How is diagnosis carried out?

Fecal microscopy reveals steatorrhea: drops of fat, a lot of soap in the feces, fatty acids. Also, elements of fiber, muscle fibers, normal and pathological microflora, starch grains, and salts may be present in the stool.

By the appearance of stool and with the help of microscopy, one can suspect the pathology of a particular organ. This relationship is presented in the table.

Reasons for deviations	physical and chemical indicators	Microscopy
Pancreatic insufficiency	Abundant stool, 2-4 times a day. It can be shaped or in the form of cow droppings. Color - gray, clayey, sometimes colorless. It has an unpleasant fetid odor, the pH is alkaline.	Large amounts of triglycerides, fatty acid needles, soaps. There may be incompletely broken down muscle fibers, starch, and undigested lumps.
Impaired bile secretion	The bowel movements are copious, 1-3 times a day, often with a mushy consistency. The structure of feces is loose, the pH is acidic. The color is whitish-gray, the smell is pungent and unpleasant.	There are many needles of fatty acids; with constipation, soaps are detected in the stool.
Intestinal digestion disorders	The color varies from yellow to brown, up to 2 times a day, the amount of feces is normal. pH acidic. The stool may be shaped or resemble mush.	Steatorrhea with diarrhea is represented by needles of fatty acids, with constipation and normal evacuation - in the form of salts of fatty acids (soaps).

Features of treatment

It is important for a person to monitor the appearance of stool. If you suspect steatorrhea, you should contact a gastroenterologist or local doctor. The specialist will conduct a survey for the presence of hereditary pathology, assess the condition of the internal organs using palpation, and prescribe stool and urine tests.

If indicated, ultrasound, intestinal x-ray, and tomography are performed. Medicines are prescribed depending on the identified disorders.

Nutritional Features

The patient is advised to follow a diet. High-fat foods, fried foods, pickles, marinades, smoked foods, that is, all heavy foods, are removed from the diet. During treatment it is necessary to exclude alcoholic drinks. Processed meats and low-quality foods also contribute to the formation of steatorrhea.

The diet should contain proteins in the form of lean poultry, turkey, and rabbit. Steamed sea fish, cottage cheese, and low-fat kefir are allowed. It is allowed to use a small amount of butter - no more than 50 g per day.

The diet is followed until the symptoms of steatorrhea disappear completely. It is important to enrich your diet with fortified foods.

To improve digestive processes the following are prescribed:

enzymes - Pancreatin, Mezim, Creon;
sorbents - Enterosgel, Smecta;
antacids (they enhance the action of enzymes and neutralize excess hydrochloric acid) - Phosphalugel, Omez;
vitamin complexes containing fat-soluble vitamins and B vitamins.

Possible complications

Ignoring a symptom such as oily stools can lead to serious consequences:

vitamin deficiency;
heart and kidney failure;
protein deficiency in the body;
constant weakness and fatigue;
neurological disorders.

Constant diarrhea causes dehydration of the body, while the patient suffers from thirst, the skin and mucous membranes become dry and rough. Protein deficiency affects the functioning of the endocrine system, liver and kidneys.

If you find fatty stools, you should not self-medicate. Sometimes this sign may indicate severe health problems. A timely examination of the body, nutritional correction, and medication will help avoid complications.

Steatorrhea is the passage of excess fat in the stool.
With steatorrhea, the amount of fat excreted in feces per day exceeds 5 grams. In some cases it amounts to tens or even hundreds of grams.

Symptoms of steatorrhea.

The stool has an oily, greasy sheen.
Feces are poorly washed off the walls of the toilet with water.

Forms
There are 3 types of steatorrhea:

1st type- the presence of neutral fat in the feces (the main component of animal fats and vegetable oils);
2nd type- the presence in feces of fatty acids (compounds of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen that can react with alkalis) and soaps (salts of fatty acids and metals);
3rd type- presence of signs of types 1 and 2.

Causes .

Alimentary steatorrhea (excessive intake of fats from food).
Pancreatic diseases:
acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas lasting less than 6 months);
chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas lasting more than 6 months);
strictures (narrowing) of the Wirsung duct (the duct through which pancreatic juice enters the duodenum);
Solinger-Ellison syndrome (pancreatic tumor leading to the formation of ulcers (deep defects) of the stomach and intestines).

Liver diseases:
acute hepatitis (inflammatory liver diseases lasting less than 6 months);
chronic hepatitis (inflammatory liver diseases lasting more than 6 months);
alcoholic hepatitis (inflammatory liver disease that develops as a result of long-term alcohol consumption);
cirrhosis of the liver (a liver disease characterized by a significant decrease in the number of active liver cells with the development of fibrosis (replacement with connective tissue), restructuring of the normal structure of the liver and the subsequent development of disturbances in the normal functioning of the liver);
primary biliary cirrhosis (a disease in which the intrahepatic bile ducts are gradually destroyed);
primary sclerosing cholangitis (a disease in which inflammation and scarring of the intrahepatic bile ducts occurs);
hemochromatosis (hereditary disorder of iron metabolism with excessive accumulation in organs);
hepatolenticular degeneration (or Wilson's disease) - a congenital disorder of copper metabolism;
amyloidosis (a disease in which amyloid, a special complex of protein and carbohydrate, accumulates in the organs of the liver);
tumors (pathological (abnormal) tissue growth) of the liver;
cysts (cavities) of the liver.

Intestinal diseases:
Crohn's disease (a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by the formation of ulcers and narrowing in the intestines, as well as damage to other organs);
Whipple's disease (a special infectious disease of the intestines and lymph nodes);
intestinal lymphoma (a tumor consisting of lymphocytes - a special version of leukocytes - white blood cells);
condition after resection (removal of part) of the intestine;
enteritis (inflammation of the small intestine);
intestinal diverticulosis (a disease in which diverticula appear in the intestinal wall - pouch-like protrusions);
intestinal amyloidosis.

Diseases of the endocrine glands (or endocrine organs - glands that do not have their own excretory ducts and secrete hormones directly into the blood):
hyperthyroidism (increased production of thyroid hormones);
Addison's disease (decreased production of adrenal hormones).

Some hereditary and congenital (occurs in utero) diseases
abetalipoproteinemia (a hereditary disease characterized by impaired absorption and transport (transfer) of fats);
cystic fibrosis (a hereditary disease in which the secretions (that is, mucus) of all glands have increased thickness and viscosity);
celiac disease (a congenital disease in which incomplete breakdown of gluten, a special protein in cereals, occurs).

Skin diseases with systemic manifestations(that is, affecting not only the skin, but also internal organs):
psoriasis (a chronic disease that primarily affects the skin, nails and joints, and less commonly, internal organs);
eczema (chronic inflammatory disease of the upper layers of the skin).

Excessive use of certain medications:
laxatives (a group of medications that cause more frequent and loose stools than usual);
drugs for the treatment of obesity.

Diagnostics
Analysis of the medical history and complaints (when (how long ago) did greasy stool appear, when did stool begin to be difficult to flush from the walls of the toilet, is this accompanied by other complaints (for example, nausea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, the appearance of blood in the stool), with what the patient associates the occurrence of these symptoms).
Life history analysis. Does the patient have any chronic and hereditary diseases (passed from parents to children), does the patient have bad habits, has he taken any medications for a long time, has he had tumors, has he been in contact with toxic (poisonous) substances.

Physical examination. Reduced (less often normal or increased) body weight is determined, pallor or yellowness of the skin and mucous membranes, and skin rashes are possible. When palpating (feeling) the abdomen, some parts may be painful. By percussion (tapping) of the abdomen, the sizes of the liver, spleen and pancreas are determined.
Macroscopic (visual assessment) examination of feces: feces have a grayish-clayey tint, their color is usually lighter than normal, and there is a coating on the surface in the form of frozen fat.
Microscopic (that is, carried out using magnifying optical instruments) examination of feces can reveal the presence of a large amount of undigested fats:
fatty acids - compounds of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen that can react with alkalis;
neutral fat - the main component of animal fats and vegetable oils, consisting of compounds of triatomic alcohol glycerol with fatty acids;
soap - salts of fatty acids and metals.
Quantitative determination of fat in feces using a chemical method (normally, no more than 5 grams of fat should be excreted in feces per day).
Radioisotope testing (ingestion of fatty acids or neutral fat labeled with radioactive substances) is used in special cases if other diagnostic methods have not been effective enough.
If necessary, to clarify the diagnosis, the doctor may prescribe additional examinations:
instrumental research methods (for example, ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs, colonoscopy (examination of the inner lining of the large intestine using a special optical device - an endoscope), etc.);
laboratory research methods (determining the level of thyroid hormones or adrenal cortex, etc.);
consultations with specialized specialists (endocrinologist, etc.). A consultation with a therapist is also possible.

Treatment of steatorrhea
The treatment of steatorrhea is based on treatment of the disease that caused steatorrhea (for example, taking enzyme preparations (promoting the digestion of food) with food for chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas lasting more than 6 months), surgical removal of an intestinal tumor, etc.).

Diet should be selected individually, depending on the disease that caused steatorrhea. General recommendations are only to avoid alcohol, fatty, spicy and fried foods.
Additional intake of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K).

Complications and consequences
Complications of steatorrhea.

Malabsorption of nutrients in the intestines:
protein deficiency (a condition that develops due to insufficient intake of proteins in the body);
hypovitaminosis (insufficient content of vitamins in the body), especially fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K));
loss of body weight up to cachexia (a state of deep exhaustion and weakness of the body).
Water-electrolyte imbalance:
constant feeling of thirst;
swelling;
dehydration (dry skin and mucous membranes);
convulsions (paroxysmal involuntary muscle contractions).
Loss of body weight.
Oxaluria (excessive excretion of oxalic acid salts in the urine) and the formation of oxalate urinary stones (stones in the kidneys and urinary tract consisting of oxalic acid salts). This is due to the fact that normally oxalates from the intestines do not enter the blood, as they are insoluble due to their combination with calcium. With steatorrhea, calcium combines with fats and is excreted from the body, so oxalates from the intestines enter the blood in large quantities.
Disturbances in the activity of all internal organs (heart, breathing, kidneys, brain and spinal cord).
Psychological discomfort (sleep disturbances, communication problems, deterioration in the quality of work performed, etc.).

Prevention of steatorrhea
Primary prevention of steatorrhea (that is, before the disease occurs) involves preventing diseases that can lead to it.

Quitting alcohol.
Rational and balanced nutrition:
exclusion of spicy, fatty, fried foods from the diet;
eating small meals frequently.

Secondary prevention (that is, after the development of the disease) of steatorrhea consists of timely and complete treatment of diseases accompanied by steatorrhea (for example, the prescription of antibiotics for infectious intestinal diseases, etc.).

Diarrhea itself is a rather unpleasant condition, which exists in more than one form; there are several types that differ from each other, one of them is steatorrhea. Directly, in addition to loose stools, the victim produces feces with fat. This condition has its own causes, symptoms and treatment methods.

Such diarrhea can be observed in both adults and children. If you find fatty acids in your stool (gloss), you should consult a doctor, since there are several types of this complication.

Fatty acids in feces, description of the condition

Our intestines perform many functions in absorbing a large number of different elements. With complete or partial dysfunction, the patient may experience a condition such as steatorrhea (fatty stool).

In a healthy person, the content of fatty acids in feces does not exceed five grams. If you have diarrhea of this type, then their concentration will be much greater, sometimes their amount reaches hundreds of grams.

As mentioned earlier, steatorrhea has several types, they differ in the nature of their origin.

Alimentary (food)

Based on the name, you can guess that fatty, loose stools in an adult in this case are caused by the quality of nutrition. If your diet contains a large amount of fat, then it simply physically cannot be completely absorbed by the body, and the remains will come out in pure form, which will lead to fatty stools. Perhaps this is the most common reason for such a failure.

Intestinal

Steatorrhea in this case is caused by disruption of the small intestine. Fatty acids in feces are a consequence of the fact that they are poorly digested and absorbed. This can be caused by various diseases, illnesses and, of course, nutrition.

Pancreatic

A more complex form, since it is not the intestines that suffer, the treatment of which in most cases is quite simple. The pancreas comes under attack and stops producing the enzyme (lipase) necessary to break down such acids. This entails loose stools in an adult, which must be treated after consultation with a doctor.

In addition to several types, this problem is classified according to the type of discharge:

Steatorrhea type 1 is distinguished by the content of neutral fats (animal, vegetable) in the feces;
Unlike the first type, salts of fatty acids (soaps) are observed in the masses, which are capable of interacting with alkalis;
Diarrhea in an adult in the third episode will contain symptoms of types 1 and 2.

Causes of fatty stool in adults

If you ask yourself why fatty, loose stools can occur in an adult, you can see that there are a huge number of reasons for this condition, and only a doctor can accurately determine the root cause. He will tell you what to do in a specific situation and prescribe treatment that matches your tests. The reason for the presence of fatty acids in the stool of an adult may be:

Imbalance of diet towards consumption of fried and other fatty foods;
Birth defect;
Liver problems:

Chronic, acute or alcoholic hepatitis;
Cirrhosis;
Wilson-Konovalov disease. A hereditary problem in which copper metabolism is disrupted most often manifests itself at a young age;
Hemochromatosis. It is also a hereditary disease, but iron accumulates in the body;
Cyst;
Tumors of any origin;
Sclerosing cholangitis;
Amyloidosis;

Fatty acids in feces can accumulate due to problems with the gallbladder and its ducts. The list of possible ailments includes:

Cholangitis;
Acute and chronic cholecystitis;
Giardiasis;
Cholelithiasis.

The pancreas can be damaged in the following cases:

Acute and chronic pancreatitis;
Solinger-Ellison syndrome. This is a tumor that causes not only fatty stools, but also pain, heartburn, and internal bleeding. This tumor is provoked by hypersecretion (increased synthesis) of hydrochloric acid in the stomach;
Narrowing of the Wirsung duct (through which pancreatic juice enters the duodenum).

Naturally, the content of fatty acids in feces can be caused by various intestinal ailments:

Whipple's disease;
Enteritis;
Amyloidosis;
Postoperative condition (resection);
Crohn's disease.
Diverticulosis;
Lymphoma (tumor).

Some skin diseases (such as psoriasis or eczema) can affect the tissues of internal organs, causing dysfunction of the latter and fatty stools in an adult if the gastrointestinal tract is affected;
Uncontrolled use of laxatives can also cause diarrhea with complications.

Additional symptoms

As you noticed, such a problem as fatty feces has quite a variety of causes, and those listed above are not all of them. Of course, every disease has its own manifestations. However, steatorrhea itself has individual symptoms, because it will not be diagnosed in 100% of cases of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or other systems. Its signs are as follows:

Dizziness;
Dry cough;
General weakness;
Nausea;
Bloating;
Lips, nose and other mucous membranes become dry;
Frequent trips to the toilet;
A noticeable symptom is that the greasy feces are quite sticky and are difficult to wash off the walls of the toilet;
It will also contain noticeable inclusions of fat, and the color of the discharge will acquire a light gray tint and a characteristic shine.

Fatty acids in adult stool, treatment of this condition

If you suspect that your loose stools are oily, contact your gastroenterologist to have your concerns checked. Previously, a small part of the possible root causes of this condition was mentioned, so the doctor first of all performs some diagnostic procedures:

Survey (nutrition, lifestyle, heredity testing);
Analysis of stool, urine;
Colonoscopy;
Radioisotope technology.

If fatty acids (or salts of fatty acids) are actually found in the feces, the doctor will make a diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

The most important thing is diet:

Exclusion of fried, spicy, salty, smoked and other heavy foods. You should not overload the affected body during this period;
You can take no more than 50 grams of fat (natural butter) per day;
Lean meat (turkey, rabbit and others);
Lean fish;
Dairy products (low-fat);
Vitamin course (A, D, E, K)
Eliminate all vegetable fats, which are found in legumes and many prepared foods (semi-finished products).

Therapy that eliminates symptoms:

Enzyme preparations: Creon, Pancitrate, Pancreatin. They improve not only digestion, but also normalize the functioning of the entire gastrointestinal tract;
Adsorbent: Smecta, Enterosgel, Atoxil;
If fatty feces contain a large amount of acids, anticidal drugs are prescribed: Almagel, Phosphalugel, Gastal. They partially neutralize gastric juice and thereby increase the effect of enzyme medications;

If you ignore this problem, it threatens with the following complications:

Kidney failure;
Diseases of the cardiovascular system;
Protein deficiency;
Constant fatigue, deterioration of general condition, and in difficult cases - psychological deviations.

If you find fat in your stool, consult a doctor as soon as possible. This will protect you from potential consequences and eliminate such an unpleasant condition faster. In this case, there is no need to self-medicate - it can only do harm.

Such diarrhea can be observed in both adults and children. If you find fatty acids in your stool (gloss), you should consult a doctor, since there are several types of this complication.

Fatty acids in feces, description of the condition

As mentioned earlier, steatorrhea has several types, they differ in the nature of their origin.

Alimentary (food)

Intestinal

Pancreatic

In addition to several types, this problem is classified according to the type of discharge:

Steatorrhea type 1 is distinguished by the content of neutral fats (animal, vegetable) in the feces;
Unlike the first type, salts of fatty acids (soaps) are observed in the masses, which are capable of interacting with alkalis;
Diarrhea in an adult in the third episode will contain symptoms of types 1 and 2.

Causes of fatty stool in adults

Imbalance of diet towards consumption of fried and other fatty foods;
Birth defect;
Liver problems:

Chronic, acute or alcoholic hepatitis;
Cirrhosis;
Wilson-Konovalov disease. A hereditary problem in which copper metabolism is disrupted most often manifests itself at a young age;
Hemochromatosis. It is also a hereditary disease, but iron accumulates in the body;
Cyst;
Tumors of any origin;
Sclerosing cholangitis;
Amyloidosis;

Fatty acids in feces can accumulate due to problems with the gallbladder and its ducts. The list of possible ailments includes:

Cholangitis;
Acute and chronic cholecystitis;
Giardiasis;
Cholelithiasis.

The pancreas can be damaged in the following cases:

Acute and chronic pancreatitis;
Solinger-Ellison syndrome. This is a tumor that causes not only fatty stools, but also pain, heartburn, and internal bleeding. This tumor is provoked by hypersecretion (increased synthesis) of hydrochloric acid in the stomach;
Narrowing of the Wirsung duct (through which pancreatic juice enters the duodenum).

Naturally, the content of fatty acids in feces can be caused by various intestinal ailments:

Whipple's disease;
Enteritis;
Amyloidosis;
Postoperative condition (resection);
Crohn's disease.
Diverticulosis;
Lymphoma (tumor).

Some skin diseases (such as psoriasis or eczema) can affect the tissues of internal organs, causing dysfunction of the latter and fatty stools in an adult if the gastrointestinal tract is affected;
Uncontrolled use of laxatives can also cause diarrhea with complications.

Additional symptoms

Dizziness;
Dry cough;
General weakness;
Nausea;
Bloating;
Lips, nose and other mucous membranes become dry;
Frequent trips to the toilet;
A noticeable symptom is that the greasy feces are quite sticky and are difficult to wash off the walls of the toilet;
It will also contain noticeable inclusions of fat, and the color of the discharge will acquire a light gray tint and a characteristic shine.

Fatty acids in adult stool, treatment of this condition

Survey (nutrition, lifestyle, heredity testing);
Analysis of stool, urine;
Colonoscopy;
Radioisotope technology.

If fatty acids (or salts of fatty acids) are actually found in the feces, the doctor will make a diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

The most important thing is diet:

Exclusion of fried, spicy, salty, smoked and other heavy foods. You should not overload the affected body during this period;
You can take no more than 50 grams of fat (natural butter) per day;
Lean meat (turkey, rabbit and others);
Lean fish;
Dairy products (low-fat);
Vitamin course (A, D, E, K)
Eliminate all vegetable fats, which are found in legumes and many prepared foods (semi-finished products).

Therapy that eliminates symptoms:

Enzyme preparations: Creon, Pancitrate, Pancreatin. They improve not only digestion, but also normalize the functioning of the entire gastrointestinal tract;
Adsorbent: Smecta, Enterosgel, Atoxil;
If fatty feces contain a large amount of acids, anticidal drugs are prescribed: Almagel, Phosphalugel, Gastal. They partially neutralize gastric juice and thereby increase the effect of enzyme medications;

If you ignore this problem, it threatens with the following complications:

Kidney failure;
Diseases of the cardiovascular system;
Protein deficiency;
Constant fatigue, deterioration of general condition, and in difficult cases - psychological deviations.

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Causes of steatorrhea

Fatty stools are most often associated with high fat and fiber content in foods.

Typically, steatorrhea is not a serious health problem and occurs after eating certain foods:

Alcohol abuse
fatty fish: salmon, escolar, fatty tuna
nuts, especially whole nuts with skins intact
coconut and palm kernel oil
whole grain products
artificial fats

Severe and prolonged steatorrhea can be a sign of serious diseases such as malabsorption, enzyme deficiency and other digestive disorders.

Diseases and conditions that are accompanied by steatorrhea:

Symptoms of steatorrhea

The condition manifests itself in different ways, depending on the severity of the disorders and the amount of fat released from the intestines.

Symptoms of steatorrhea may include:

Foamy, foul-smelling stools with a greasy film
feces float and are difficult to wash off
color light brown, green, orange, yellow
abdominal pain, cramps, bloating, gas
minor muscle, bone and joint pain
heartburn and indigestion

In severe cases, when fatty stools are caused by a disease of the digestive system, appetite may decrease, general exhaustion, weakness, anemia, osteoporosis, fever, weight loss, and neurological disorders may occur.

Diagnosis and treatment of steatorrhea

To confirm steatorrhea and find out its causes, the doctor may order a stool test for fecal fat and some other diagnostic tests (tests for cystic fibrosis, colonoscopy, etc.)

Treatment for steatorrhea depends on the cause and severity of the condition.

Mild cases can often be overcome without drug treatment.

Refrain from smoking and alcohol
drink enough liquid
limit consumption of fatty foods and fiber
add fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K to your diet
click on vitamin B12, B9, calcium, magnesium and iron
for heartburn - over-the-counter antacids
for diarrhea - loperamide or diosmectite
for bloating, take simethicone

People with severe or chronic steatorrhea need medical attention. If mild cases do not threaten anything other than mild dehydration and minimal discomfort, then with severe malabsorption of fats, serious complications are possible - even failure of internal organs.

Medicines for steatorrhea:

Antidiarrheal drugs
intravenous solutions for dehydration
enzyme preparations for the pancreas
proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
essential fatty acids

Fat in the stool can be a sign of a “harmless” error in the diet, as well as a symptom of life-threatening diseases.

Chronic, severe steatorrhea is a reason to go to the hospital for examination!

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Types of disease

Steatorrhea can be:

Pancreatic, caused by dysfunction of the pancreas, in particular due to insufficient secretion of the lipase enzyme responsible for the breakdown of fats.
Intestinal, which occurs when the absorption properties of the intestine are impaired.
Nutritional or nutritional, developing with excessive consumption of fatty foods that the gastrointestinal tract is not able to digest.

According to another classification, steatorrhea is divided into categories depending on what is contained in the stool:

neutral fats;
soaps and fatty acids;
mixed set of exchange products.

Symptoms of steatorrhea

With adequate nutrition and general well-being, steatorrhea is accompanied by the following symptoms:

frequent, copious and loose stools, although constipation is also possible;
lethargy;
dry cough;
cracks in the corners of the mouth;
pale lips;
bleeding gums;
bright language;
stomatitis;
dizziness;
dry mucous membranes;
sudden weight loss;
rumbling in the intestines.

In addition, a person is tormented by thirst, not associated with eating salty foods or playing sports.

Consequences

Without treatment, long-term steatorrhea leads to a deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins: K, E, D and A, without which:

vision deteriorates;
hair becomes brittle and dull;
nails peel;

Etiology of the condition

The sign may indicate stagnation of bile in the gallbladder, as well as the presence of acute or chronic problems with the liver and small intestine.

The symptom of not flushing feces from the toilet can appear if a person abuses anti-obesity drugs, for example, Orlistat, which is also known under other trade names:

Orsoten slim;
Orlimax;
Xenaltten;
Allie.

With their long-term use, it is possible to disrupt the processes of fat metabolism, which are not restored even after the end of the treatment course with their use.

Fatty stool in an adult can result from:

Systemic dermatoses, in which, in addition to the skin, internal organs are also affected. This type of diarrhea occurs in patients suffering from lichen planus or eczema.
Pathologies in the functioning of the endocrine glands, such as hyperthyroidism or Addison's disease.
Genetic diseases that impair the absorption and transfer of triglycerides.

Steatorrhea during pregnancy

Violation of vitamin absorption during pregnancy leads to problems:

With blood clotting and possible bleeding during labor.
In the development of the musculoskeletal system of the fetus.
Deterioration of visual acuity in mother and child, as well as dry skin and mucous membranes.

You can help a pregnant woman with the help of medications, folk remedies and diet therapy.

Diagnostics

Possible complications

Impaired absorption capacity of the intestine leads to the following conditions:

Protein deficiency.
Imbalance of electrolytes, resulting in cramps, dry mucous membranes, swelling, and incessant thirst.
Oxaluria in the form of insoluble stones consisting of oxalates and capable of clogging the urinary tract and kidneys.
Pathologies of the brain, respiratory system, heart and kidneys.
Neuroses in which the patient has mental problems, for example, difficulty communicating, decreased performance, sleep disturbances.

Therapy

Treatment must be timely, using the correct therapeutic approach. It is not steatorrhea that is treated, but the underlying provoking disease.

The doctor prescribes medications containing lipase. They are covered with a shell that protects them from stomach enzymes. Patients take:

Creon;
Pancitrate.

Antacids are prescribed to neutralize hydrochloric acid:

Gastal;
Phosphalugel;
Almagel et al.

With them, enzyme therapy is much more effective.

Prescription of Cortisone, hydrochloric acid and adrenocorticotropic hormone with parallel control of ketosteroids, which are supported by protein intake.

Diet therapy

The nutritionist creates prescriptions on an individual basis, taking into account the causes of the condition, the severity of the underlying pathology, and additional symptoms.

exclusion of spicy, fried and fatty foods;
refusal of alcohol;
drinking plain water instead of sweet soda.

The following animal proteins are allowed:

lean varieties of fish and meat that are best boiled;
low-fat fermented milk products instead of whole milk.

Mandatory vitamin therapy with the prescription of vitamins B5 and B12, as well as fat-soluble vitamins K, E, D and A.

Prevention

To avoid the development of steatorrhea, you should:

Enrich your diet with animal proteins instead of soybeans and other legumes.
Eliminate foods containing gluten from your diet.
Bring sugar intake to moderate doses.

Conclusion

Fatty stool with a constant urge to defecate is not the norm. To avoid life-threatening consequences, you should promptly pay attention to this symptom and take action.

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Causes

There are many reasons that lead to fatty stools. Most often these are pathologies of internal organs, and sometimes various external factors. The main reasons include:

Congenital defect.
Excess fatty foods on the menu.
Intestinal diseases.
Malfunction of the pancreas.
Chronic form of pancreatitis.
Liver diseases – hepatitis, cirrhosis.
Disruption of some glands.
Problems with the gallbladder and its ducts.

Kinds

Doctors offer the following qualifications:

Intestinal. The patient's small intestine does not absorb fat at all, so it is excreted in the feces.
Nutritional develops when a person does not eat properly. A lot of fat enters his stomach, which is not fully digested.
Pancreatic develops if the functioning of the pancreas is disrupted. There is no enzyme that is necessary for the complete absorption of fat. In this case, the amount of lipase, which is essential for the breakdown of fat, is reduced.

Symptoms

The main symptom of the disease is a constant urge to defecate. At this time, the patient begins to secrete oily feces, which leaves a greasy mark. As a rule, the stool is light-colored or gray.

You need to worry in the following cases:

Dry cough constantly bothers me.
The urge to defecate has become more frequent.
Fecal incontinence.
Worried about dizziness.
The patient notices pain in the spine and joints.
The stomach swells and growls.
The person is weakening.
Performance is completely reduced.
The mucous membranes dry out.

With all these symptoms, the body gradually begins to become exhausted, erythema may appear on the skin, and there may be swelling in the corners of the mouth. The patient is also often bothered by stomatitis, looseness and bleeding gums.

Diagnostics

The doctor must examine the patient and listen to all his complaints. When the doctor palpates the left side of the abdomen, he notices a strong rumbling sound. But when he probes deeply, he feels the masses in the intestines shimmer.

Then instrumental methods are prescribed; they are considered more informative. For example, with the help of rectoscopy, you can find out how atrophied the mucous membrane is and whether there are terminal hairs on it.

The patient must undergo a stool test; after examining it and the test results, the doctor prescribes the necessary treatment. More informative diagnostic methods are:

Microscopic and macroscopic assessment.
Ultrasound.
Colonoscopy.
Radioisotope technologies.

Attention! If measures are not taken in a timely manner for steatorrhea, everything can end in leukopenia, hyponatremia, hypolipemia, hypocalcemia.

Treatment methods

First of all, they want to rid the patient of the pathology that led to oily stools. If pancreatitis is to blame, special enzymes are prescribed that improve the digestive process.

It is very important to go on a diet for some time; it can only be prescribed by your doctor. Proper nutrition will help restore stool. Drug treatment is of no small importance. In this case, medications with a high concentration of lipase are prescribed. Please note that pharmacists cover all medications with a coating that prevents absorption into the stomach, so the medicine immediately ends up in the intestines.

Can be assigned: Creon, Maalox, Pancreatin, Gastal, Almagel. Also, to quickly cure steatorrhea you need to take: vitamins, antacids, hydrochloric acid, adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisone.

Diet for steatorrhea

In all forms of the disease, it is necessary to adhere to a low-fat diet. You are allowed to consume no more than 50 grams of fat per day. The following products are allowed:

Butter must be of high quality, not a spread.
Lean meat - it can be beef, rabbit, turkey.
Lean fish.
Low fat dairy products only. Give preference to low-fat yogurt and kefir.

The diet must be followed until your condition is completely normalized. Be careful with easily digestible carbohydrates; high concentrations can lead to stagnation of bile. Please note that the more vitamins in a patient’s diet, the faster he recovers. Some doctors specifically prescribe multivitamin complexes.

What are the forecasts?

If the patient does not pay attention to steatorrhea and refuses to take medications, everything can result in the following complications:

The intestines do not absorb the nutritional components that enter the body.
Protein deficiency and hypovitaminosis are observed.
Severe exhaustion of the body, due to the fact that the patient is rapidly losing weight.
Swelling.
Thirst is a constant concern.
Complete dehydration of the body.
Convulsions are a concern.

A dangerous consequence is that important system organs cease to function. In addition, the patient develops a number of complexes - due to constant defecation, it is difficult for him to communicate with loved ones and other people.

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Causes of steatorrhea

The main symptom of steatorrhea is an increase in stool fat content. The masses acquire an unnatural shine, noticeable to the human eye. They are quite difficult to flush down the toilet without leaving a trace. Part of the stool remains on the walls, maintaining an oily sheen.

All categories of citizens are susceptible to this disease. Pathology can manifest itself in both a child and an adult of any gender.

The causes of steatorrhea are quite simple. There are many circumstances that result in this disease. Among the most common causes, it is worth noting complications of various systems and organs. Certain external factors can act as catalysts.

The most common causes of fatty stool recorded by medical professionals are as follows:

an excess of fatty components in food that a person eats for a long time and regularly;
pancreatic pathology - the item under consideration includes malignant tumors and the most dangerous forms of pancreatitis;
problems in the secretion of internal glands of the body;
genetic developmental disorders;
disruptions in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and adjacent organ structures;
liver pathologies;
blockage of the gallbladder ducts and failure of its functionality.

Regular consumption of fatty foods leads to intestinal problems

The disease described is a consequence, not a cause. Therefore, every person who has received an appropriate diagnosis should begin complex treatment in a timely manner, which will help minimize the likelihood of pathologies occurring.

Types of deviation

In medicine, there is a generally accepted classification of forms of the disease, according to which the patient is prescribed treatment. The methods used and the specifics of recovery vary depending on the diagnosis. The following types are distinguished:

Pancreatic. The most common reason for its formation is a malfunction of the pancreas. Sticky stool in an adult is a symptom of lipase deficiency. This element is produced by the gland and helps to fully break down fats and its derivatives to reduce the load on the gastrointestinal tract.
Intestinal. This form of the disease is the least dangerous. With it, fats cannot be fully absorbed in the small intestine, which is why they exit through the anus in the form of stool.
Nutritional. Also known as the food variety. Its development is provoked by the lack of a diet and regular intake of junk food. This form is a consequence of consuming a large amount of fats, which the gastrointestinal tract cannot fully break down and absorb.

Fatty stools may indicate problems with the pancreas or small intestine

There is also a classification, the determining factor of which is the type of feces:

contains fats, acids and soaps;
there are neutral fats;
there is a large volume of soap and fatty acids.

Symptoms of pathology

There are many symptoms that signal the development of the disease. The most significant and common is frequent bowel movements. The process is accompanied by the release of a large amount of fat and its derivatives in the stool.

The color of stool can vary from gray to light shade. However, the color does not change in all cases.

Symptoms of steatorrhea that characterize the development of the disease are as follows:

increased urge to defecate;
unnatural pain in the spine and joints;
drying and peeling of the mucous membranes of organs, the oral cavity and nostrils are most susceptible to the disease;
dry frequent cough;
malfunctions of the vestibular apparatus, accompanied by causeless dizziness;
swelling of the upper part of the intestinal cavity and periodic rumbling;
loss of normal performance of the body as a whole.

Fatigue is one of the indirect symptoms of the disease

The manifestation of these symptoms requires prompt treatment. In its absence, the human body can gradually become depleted. Specific rashes form on the epidermis. The corners of the mouth crack, and symptoms of progression of stomatitis appear in the cavity. The gums lose moisture, becoming loose, which is accompanied by copious bleeding.

Possible consequences

Fatty diarrhea in an adult requires timely treatment. Having developed to the final stages, the disease can cause a wide range of complications requiring long-term recovery. Among the most common complications it is worth highlighting:

Hypovitaminosis. It is a consequence of the lack of elements coming from outside, necessary before the breakdown of fat into simple components.
Water-salt imbalance. Its development is accompanied by excessive frequent thirst, the occurrence of local edema, exhaustion of the body and dryness of the surface of the mucous membrane.
The body loses a significant amount of oxalic acids. The symptom is called oxaluria. The disease is accompanied by the formation of stones in the kidneys and urinary canals, which gradually become blocked. New growths do not dissolve.
Malfunctions of the central nervous system. Performance decreases, good sleep is disrupted, the ability to concentrate visual and auditory attention decreases, and thought processes become difficult.
Protein deficiency. The body's muscle tissue does not absorb protein in sufficient quantities, which gradually destroys the fibers and depletes them.
Exhaustion of the entire body caused by lack of fluid.
Cramps. Spontaneous contractions of muscle fibers, acquiring the character of attacks.
Partial or complete damage to vital organs. For example, the brain, cardiovascular system and lungs.

One of the consequences of the problem is a water-salt imbalance, leading to a constant feeling of thirst.

Fatty stool in a child is accompanied by similar symptoms. They may manifest themselves less intensely, but act similarly on the patient.

Diagnostic methods

A competent specialist must conduct a thorough examination, taking into account all the complaints of the patient. In this way, a reliable clinical picture is formed, based on which the most effective treatment procedures are prescribed.

Oily stool in an adult is accompanied by a characteristic rumbling in the left side of the abdomen. More detailed palpation allows you to verify the presence of a mass transfused in the gastrointestinal tract.

After identifying the disease, diagnostic procedures are prescribed using special instruments. The measures described allow us to obtain the greatest amount of information. Rectoscopy determines the presence of such inflammations.

If a problem occurs, the doctor will prescribe a series of laboratory tests

A significant role is played by visual assessment of feces and its detailed analysis. The procedures are necessary for prescribing appropriate medications used in the treatment course in the future. The presented assessment methods provide the most reliable information:

microscopic;
macroscopic.

Secondary diagnostic methods prescribed under certain conditions:

colonoscopy;
ultrasonography;
radioisotope technology.

After watching this video, you will learn what diseases problems with stool may indicate:

Treatment options

Treatment of steatorrhea consists of ridding the patient of the disease that caused the formation of fatty masses in the stool. Since pathology is a consequence, it is advisable to use medications that eliminate the causative disease.

The use of medications will allow you to shorten the treatment course and get a more lasting result. Experts use products containing lipase in large quantities. They have a specialized shell designed to hold substances. Such a device is necessary to transport nutrients to the intestines through the stomach.

One of the components of treatment is proper nutrition.

The treatment course involves the use of the following drugs:

Gastal;
Vitamins;
Cortisone;
Almagel;
Hydrochloric acid.

Prevention methods

It is important to understand the cause of sticky stool. It appears due to the lack of preventive measures. The recommendations indicated in the table will reduce the likelihood of the disease occurring.

Method	Purposes of use
Dividing the amount of food consumed throughout the day	The load on the gastrointestinal tract and adjacent organs is reduced, thereby normalizing its performance and increasing resistance to the penetration of harmful elements
Diet food	A sufficient supply of nutrients will improve the condition of the body and improve the synthesis of nutrients.
Refusal of fried foods and a lot of seasonings	Spices in large quantities load the liver, gradually reducing its performance. Refusal of them will allow you to restore your previous state naturally.
Quitting tobacco products and alcoholic beverages	Tobacco has a detrimental effect on the respiratory system, and ethyl destroys the liver. Excluding them from the usual diet will slow down the regression of the body and increase the synthesis of microelements necessary for recovery