When there is inadequate absorption of fats in the digestive tract, stool contains excess fat and is light-colored, soft, bulky, greasy, and unusually foul-smelling (such stool is called steatorrhea).
Fat malabsorption
This is a common type of malabsorption, possibly because it has so many causes. Fats that aren't absorbed in your small intestine pass to your colon, causing fatty stools (steatorrhea). Fatty stools are greasy and runny and particularly smelly. They may be light-colored and float.
Yellow stool may indicate a malabsorption disorder caused by a parasite, illness, or disease.
Bile from the liver, known as bilirubin, creates the typical brown hue of a healthy bowel movement. When the stool is very pale, it often means that not enough bile is reaching the stool. Stools may contain low bile levels if there is a problem with the gallbladder, pancreas, or liver.
Stools that are pale, clay, or putty-colored may be due to problems in the biliary system. The biliary system is the drainage system of the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas. Food passes from the stomach into the small intestine.
An occasional clay-colored stool isn't usually a concern. However, if pale stools persist, it can point to a problem with bile ducts or another underlying medical condition. It's essential to see a healthcare provider, especially if you have any other concerning symptoms, like jaundice or pain.
Yes, white stool can be temporary. Several things, including stomach flu, antidiarrheal medications, or bile duct obstruction, can cause it. Once these conditions resolve, the stool color usually returns to normal.
Tumors: Benign or malignant tumors affecting the bile flow can cause pale stools. Narrowing of the Bile Ducts: Gallbladder surgery can sometimes cause narrowing of the bile ducts affecting the bile flow. Giardiasis: Giardiasis is an infection caused by the parasite giardia lamblia. Giardiasis can cause pale stool.
Diarrhoea: this is the main symptom. When bile acids are not properly re-absorbed from the ileum, they pass instead into the large intestine (colon), irritating the lining of the colon and stimulating salt and water secretion. Diarrhoea is usually frequent during the day and sometimes at night.
More specific diagnostic tests (eg, upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, barium x-rays) are indicated to diagnose several causes of malabsorption.
Chronic (or ongoing) diarrhea is a very common sign of malabsorption.
Hematologic tests indicated in the workup of malabsorption include the following: A complete blood cell (CBC) count may reveal microcytic anemia due to iron deficiency or macrocytic anemia due to vitamin B12 (cobalamin) or B9 (folate) malabsorption.
Steatorrhea—fatty stool, the hallmark of malabsorption—occurs when > 7 g/day of fat are excreted. Steatorrhea causes foul-smelling, pale, bulky, and greasy stools.
Excess bile acids entering the colon can cause the classic signs and symptoms of bile acid malabsorption (BAM), including watery stool, urgency and fecal incontinence. Although BAM has been associated with diarrhea for nearly 50 years, it remains an underrecognized and underdiagnosed cause of chronic diarrhea.
A stool test that directly measures the amount of fat in stool that has been collected over 3 days is the most reliable one for diagnosing malabsorption of fat, which is present in almost all malabsorption disorders. A finding of more than 7 grams of fat in the stool daily is the hallmark of malabsorption.
Anxiety does not specifically affect the color of stool, but it can affect how food moves through the digestive tract. There are several ways that anxiety affects digestion, increasing the risk of yellow feces. Anxiety is also linked to IBS, which can cause yellow stool.
No. Pale, clay-colored, or white stool can be a sign of problems with the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, or the duct that secretes bile. 2 If you have a fever, abdominal pain, or yellowing of the skin, seek emergency medical treatment.
Pale stools and other warning signs of late-stage fatty liver disease | TheHealthSite.com.
A virus that can cause a stomach bug followed by pale stools is hepatitis A. This type of stomach bug is a viral infection that affects the liver. Other types of hepatitis, such as hepatitis B and C, can also cause pale stools, but these are less common.
Bottom line: To sum up, peanut butter-colored poop is normal. However, if you feel discomfort while passing the stool, this is the time to consult your doctor.
Yellow Poop Color
In addition, people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and those taking medication for GERD sometimes have yellow poop. In some cases, yellow poop can also mean you have excess fat in your stool.
The only colors that may relate to disease are red, black and white. All other colors are not due to a medical problem. Normal stools are not always dark brown. Sometimes they are light brown, tan or yellow.
Definition. Clay colored stools lacking bile pigment. [ from HPO]
Most pure clay minerals are white or light-coloured, but natural clays show a variety of colours from impurities, such as a reddish or brownish colour from small amounts of iron oxide. PANTONE 16-1431 TCX Canyon Clay Color Values: Lab 63,33 29,47 20,52 · sRGB 206 132 119 · HEX #CE8477.