Absorption is the transfer of nutrients into the bloodstream from the intestine.
The bloodstream then carries these nutrients to the areas of the body where they are needed. Malabsorption may be caused by disorders of the pancreas, stomach, and small intestine. The best way to make the diagnosis is to measure the amount of fat in the stool. The fat content is usually measured each day for three consecutive days. To get an effective test result, it is necessary to eat 100 grams of fat each day for six days.