Malabsorption in the elderly

Age-related deficiencies in gastrointestinal function do occur, but the evidence suggests that their contribution to malabsorption syndromes is usually trivial. Symptoms of malabsorption in elderly patients therefore probably do not simply reflect "old age," but some underlying problem(s). An orderly approach to diagnosis, emphasizing disorders likely to be present in the geriatric population, can lead to effective treatment.