Carbohydrate malabsorption occurs when the main dietary carbohydrates, sugars and starches, are not absorbed from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Sugars include monosaccharides (glucose, galactose, fructose) and disaccharides (lactose, sucrose, maltose).

What causes carbohydrate malabsorption?

Malabsorption may result from congenital or acquired defects of single transport systems (primary malabsorption), or from impairment of the epithelial surface of the small intestine, due to general intestinal diseases such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease, which impede the absorption of all carbohydrates (secondary ...

How is carbohydrate malabsorption treated?

In most cases, the treatment for carbohydrate malabsorption is to avoid dietary intake of the carbohydrate that the body has trouble breaking down. For example, a person with lactose intolerance needs to limit intake of milk and milk products, as these contain the carbohydrate lactose.