Table of Contents
Why does cystic fibrosis affect the digestive system?
About 90 percent of people with CF have sticky mucus that blocks ducts in the pancreas and prevents enzymes from reaching the small intestine to digest food. Undigested food in the intestines can cause pain, cramping, gas and either loose, greasy, floating stools or constipation and blockages.
What effect can cystic fibrosis have on the digestion and absorption of nutrients?
How Does Cystic Fibrosis Affect Nutrition? The sticky mucus from cystic fibrosis can block normal absorption of key nutrients and fat in the intestines, causing: poor digestion. slow growth.
Why do CF patients have diarrhea?
Diarrhea is one of the signs that the pancreas is not working as it should, so your body is not absorbing nutrients properly. That’s because in CF the mucus generated by the non-working CFTR protein clogs the ducts (tubes) leading in and out of the pancreas, which causes a condition called pancreatic insufficiency.
Why do people with cystic fibrosis have constipation?
The main etiological factor for constipation in CF patients seems to be an altered intestinal fluid composition, caused by a defective expression of the Cystic Fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) protein in the gut [3], [4].
How does the digestive system treat cystic fibrosis?
Treating digestive symptoms
- Oral pancreatic enzymes to help digest fats and proteins, and absorb more vitamins.
- Medications to reduce stomach acid, helping the pancreatic enzymes to work better.
- Supplements of vitamins A, D, E, and K to replace the fat-soluble vitamins that CF patients have trouble absorbing.
What is CF belly?
What is CF belly? A large percentage of CF people have insufficient pancreatic enzymes because the pancreas is inflamed and blocked just like the lungs. Many patients are prone to late gastric emptying, GERD, SIBO, DIOS, and slow gut transit. These conditions can mask each other. This just piles onto the poop problem.
What does CF poop smell like?
The thick mucus can also block tubes that carry digestive enzymes from your pancreas to your small intestine. Without these digestive enzymes, your intestines aren’t able to completely absorb the nutrients in the food you eat. The result is often: Foul-smelling, greasy stools.
What color is CF poop?
pale yellow, greasy, foul-smelling stool: malabsorption of fat due to pancreatic insufficiency, as seen with pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease.
What do stools look like with cystic fibrosis?
Frequent, bulky, greasy stools. A rare condition where the end part of the bowels comes out of the anus (rectal prolapse) A bowel blockage caused by a baby’s thick and sticky first bowel movement (meconium ileus) Fat in the stools.
How does cystic fibrosis affect gas exchange?
CFTR controls the flow of water and salt in and out of the body’s cells. Changes cause mucus to become thickened and sticky. This first affects the small airways in the lungs. Over time, it can affect all airways.
How does cystic fibrosis affect digestion and the pancreas?
In digestion in people with CF, the small tubes that transport these enzymes out of the pancreas become blocked with mucus . The enzymes build up in the pancreas instead of reaching the digestive system (specifically, the lumen of the gut), causing the pancreas to become inflamed.
What are the bowel symptoms of cystic fibrosis?
greasy and bulky stools
What are the effects of cystic fibrosis on vital organs?
Key Facts Cystic fibrosis is a progressive disease that causes cells to produce a thick and sticky mucus. In the liver, this mucus can block the bile duct, causing inflammation and scarring. While there are no treatments that can prevent or cure cystic fibrosis, there are ways to manage and reduce symptoms, including medications and nutritional changes.
What is the medical treatment for cystic fibrosis?
The methods used in treating cystic fibrosis include medications such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, inhaled bronchodilators, oral pancreatic enzymes, and mucus-thinning medications. In addition physical therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, and surgical procedures can be required.