Bile Acid Malabsorption: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

What are the symptoms of bile acid malabsorption?Typical symptoms include:Watery diarrhea.Frequent bowel movements.Painful stomach cramps.Urgency and difficulty holding bowel movements in.Some people also have:Abdominal bloating.Gas and gas pain.Steatorrhea (fatty stools.)Indigestion.Long-term symptoms can include:Dehydration.Fatigue.Headaches.Dizziness.Nausea.Weight gain.Weight loss.About half of people have constant symptoms, and the other half only report occasional symptoms.What causes bile acid diarrhea?The symptoms of bile acid malabsorption — primarily, bile acid diarrhea, or BAD — result from the buildup of bile acids in your colon, where food waste turns to poop. Normally, 95% of the bile acids in your small intestine are reabsorbed in the last segment (the ileum) before passing on to your colon.When too many are left over, however, they pass into your large intestine with the rest of the waste. Bile acids in your colon irritate the mucous lining, triggering it to secrete extr...