What causes malabsorption? Causes and types Symptoms Seeing a doctor Diagnosis Treatments Complications Takeaway Malabsorption is a disorder that occurs when people are unable to absorb nutrients from their diets, such as carbohydrates, fats, minerals, proteins, or vitamins. some quotes from the above article: Malabsorption symptoms vary according to the cause, the severity of the condition, and how long a person has had the disorder. Examples of some immediate malabsorption symptoms that may occur: bloating and stomach distention diarrhea fatigue gas steatorrhea, or stool that is pale to white stools that appear “greasy” in texture stomach cramping weakness People need nutrients from food to maintain a healthy body. When their body cannot properly absorb these nutrients, they might experience the more long-term effects of malabsorption. These include: bone pain bones that fracture easily iron-deficiency anemia , which can result in shortness of breath muscle wasting a sore t