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Deficiency states associated with gastro-intestinal disease

  • Published:
The American Journal of Digestive Diseases

Summary

The rôle of the gastro-intestinal tract in the development of conditioning of deficiency states may be: (1) the result of an inadequate intake of food, due to anorexia or an incomplete diet; (2) the result of a loss of essential secretions or of food, due to vomiting, diarrhea, or external fistulas; (3) the result of a lack or decreased production of essential substances (for example, the hematopoietic factor, bile, or other digestive juices), and (4) the result of inadequate intestinal absorption, due to obstruction, short-circuiting produced by fistulas, and atrophy or disease of the intestinal mucosa.

Pellagra has in our experience been the most commonly observed deficiency disease associated with gastro-intestinal abnormalities. This suggests, and it has been the experience of others, that the components of the vitamin B complex are most susceptible to the influence of altered gastro-intestinal function.

There is as yet no good explanation for the very interesting observations that a single deficiency disease, such as pellagra, for example, may be associated with or produced by a variety of different gastro-intestinal disturbances. On the other hand, several distinct deficiency syndromes may be observed in patients with the same gastro-intestinal lesion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rochester, Minnesota

    Dwight L. Wilbur M.D. & Albert M. Snell M.D.

  2. Division of Medicine, The Mayo Clinic, USA

    Albert M. Snell M.D.

Authors
  1. Dwight L. Wilbur M.D.
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  2. Albert M. Snell M.D.
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Additional information

Read at the Annual Meeting of the American Gastro-Enterological Association, Atlantic City, June 7–8, 1937.

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Wilbur, D.L., Snell, A.M. Deficiency states associated with gastro-intestinal disease. American Journal of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition 4, 720–728 (1937). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03000439

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03000439

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