This is a pathologically increased transfer of proteins from the blood through the intestinal mucosa into the intestinal lumen. In a healthy person, this amount of protein is far below the amount of new blood proteins produced daily. As a result of pathological changes in the intestinal wall, the loss of protein via the intestine can become so great that the circulating proteins in the blood plasma decrease sharply.
The causes for this can be: the intestinal wall. The proteins in the blood plasma bind fluid in the blood vessels; if the concentration of blood protein decreases, more fluid escapes from the vessels and oedema (accumulation of water in tissue or body cavities) develops.
- Lymphostasis
- Lymph Fistulas
- Inflammations
- Ulcers or
- Malignant changes
In lymphatic congestion, an attempt can be made to reduce the amount of lymph exiting the bowel by lowering the lymph pressure.
Since the lymph pressure increases during the absorption of long-chain fatty acids (from commercially available fats and oils), a low-fat diet can reduce the loss of protein into the intestinal lumen. However, since it is difficult to practice an extremely low-fat diet, it is recommended to replace all or part of the dietary fat with medium-chain fats (MCT). These fats are transported away with the portal vein blood, do not increase the lymph pressure and in the long term there is an increase in blood protein and a reduction in the tendency to oedema.
The excretion of bile salts with the stool, which is often excessive in this situation, is also improved. MCT fats and their use are described in detail in the chapter “Condition after stomach surgery”.
