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Digestion and Absorption

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Nutrition Therapy for Urolithiasis

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Abstract

The gastrointestinal tract (gut) is an organized, specialized, and segmented filter designed to absorb nutrients and other beneficial food-derived compounds and allow the rest to pass unabsorbed in stool. Prior to elimination, however, a rich milieu of microorganisms is nourished and sustained by this unabsorbed dietary material. The processes of digestion and absorption, as well as bacterial processes in the intestinal tract, influence kidney stones and other aspects of health. This chapter provides a brief review of normal gastrointestinal digestion and absorption and also includes a focus on specific mechanisms contributing to kidney stones, including common gut disorders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nephrology, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT, USA

    Desiree de Waal MS, RD, CD, FAND

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  1. Desiree de Waal MS, RD, CD, FAND
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Correspondence to Desiree de Waal MS, RD, CD, FAND .

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  1. Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Texas A&M HSC College of Medicine, Scott & White Healthcare, Temple, Texas, USA

    Patrick Lowry

  2. Department of Urology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    Kristina L. Penniston

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de Waal, D. (2018). Digestion and Absorption. In: Lowry, P., Penniston, K. (eds) Nutrition Therapy for Urolithiasis. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16414-4_4

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