title: Drug-induced malabsorption.
abstract: Pharmacologic agents of diverse types may alter gastrointestinal absorption of nutrients and other substances. Mechanisms underlying drug-induced absorptive defects that have been documented include: (1) a direct toxic effect causing morphologic changes in the mucosa of the small intestine; (2) inhibition of mucosal enzymes with or without morphologic evidence of mucosal damage; (3) binding and precipitation of micellar components, such as bile acids and fatty acids; and (4) alteration of the physicochemical state of another drug or dietary ion. The malabsorptive effect generally is dose-related, rather than an idiosyncratic reaction, and usually involves multiple nutrients. Certain clinical states, such as in the malnourished alcoholic may predipose the gastrointestinal tract to a drug-induced absorptive defect. For this review we discuss in detail nine commonly used drugs or types of drugs that cause malabsorption of dietary nutrients or other medications.
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects; D000863:Antacids / Q000009:adverse effects; D001645:Biguanides / Q000009:adverse effects; D002400:Cathartics / Q000009:adverse effects; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin / Q000009:adverse effects; D003078:Colchicine / Q000009:adverse effects; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009355:Neomycin / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids; D000863:Antacids; D001645:Biguanides; D002400:Cathartics; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin; D000431:Ethanol; D009355:Neomycin; D003078:Colchicine