Fat malabsorption Archives

22 May 2026

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Fat‑Soluble Vitamins in Neuroendocrine Tumours (NETs): Why Deficiency Happens and Who Is Most at Risk

A spotlight on NENs, Diet and Nutrition, Patient AdvocacyBile acid malabsorption, Fat malabsorption, Fat soluble vitamins, Malabsorption, Vitamin A, Vitamin ADEK, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K

This blog provides general educational information only. It does not offer medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Patients should always consult their clinical team for personalised guidance. Introduction: What Are Fat‑Soluble Vitamins? Fat‑soluble vitamins — A, D, E and K — are nutrients that can only be absorbed when dietary fat is digested properly. They rely on bile acids, pancreatic enzymes, and a healthy small intestine (especially the jejunum and ileum) to form tiny droplets called micelles, which carry these vitamins across the gut wall. Unlike water‑soluble vitamins, they are stored in the liver and fatty tissues, so deficiencies develop…

16 May 2026

By Ronny Allan

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Neuroendocrine Tumours – A Spotlight on Vitamin E (Tocopherols & Tocotrienols)

A spotlight on NENs, Diet and Nutrition, Patient AdvocacyFat malabsorption, Fat soluble vitamins, Malabsorption, Vitamin ADEK, Vitamin E

🟧A general‑population overview with NET‑specific considerations where relevant. Disclaimer: This Spotlight provides general educational information about Vitamin E. It is not a substitute for medical advice. Individual needs vary, particularly for those with conditions affecting digestion or absorption. Always consult your medical team before making changes to supplements or nutrition. What is Vitamin E? Vitamin E is a group of fat‑soluble antioxidants that protect cell membranes from oxidative damage. The most biologically active form in humans is alpha‑tocopherol. Vitamin E is stored in fatty tissues and depends on normal fat absorption. What does Vitamin E do? Acts as a major…

11 May 2026

By Ronny Allan

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Neuroendocrine Tumours (NETs) – A Spotlight on Vitamin K (Phylloquinone / Menaquinones)

Diet and Nutrition, Patient AdvocacyBile acid malabsorption, Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, Fat malabsorption, Fat soluble vitamins, Prothrombin Time Test and INR (PT/INR), Somatostatin analogues, Vitamin D, Vitamin K

Before you read thisThis information is designed to help you understand how vitamins work in the body and how certain NET-related factors might affect them. It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Every NET patient is different — tumour type, treatments, surgery, symptoms, and nutritional needs can vary widely. If you have concerns about vitamin levels, supplements, or symptoms, please speak with your NET clinical team. They can assess your individual situation and guide you safely. 1. What Is Vitamin K? Vitamin K is a fat‑soluble vitamin essential for: Normal blood clotting Bone health Vascular health Two main forms:…

17 Mar 2026

By Ronny Allan

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Neuroendocrine Tumours – A Spotlight on Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol / Ergocalciferol)

Diet and Nutrition, Patient AdvocacyFat malabsorption, Fat soluble vitamins, Vitamin D

Before you read thisThis information is designed to help you understand how vitamins work in the body and how certain NET-related factors might affect them. It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Every NET patient is different — tumour type, treatments, surgery, symptoms, and nutritional needs can vary widely.If you have concerns about vitamin levels, supplements, or symptoms, please speak with your NET clinical team. They can assess your individual situation and guide you safely. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin (along with A, E and K). Fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed with the other fats from the food…

26 Jun 2025

By Ronny Allan

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An ENETS Position Statement on nutritional support in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms

Diet and NutritionBile acid malabsorption, Diet, Digestive enzymes, Fat malabsorption, Fat soluble vitamins, Nutrition, Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), Vitamin A, Vitamin ADEK, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D

I've written many times about Nutrition and NETs - clearly it should say NENs (Neuroendocrine Neoplasms) as the issues also extend to Neuroendocrine Carcinomas. I was helped in the early days by my friend and 'nutrition for NET' mentor Tara Whyand, at the time, probably the top NET Nutrition Registered Dietitian in the world. Perhaps she still is. Much of what Tara said and wrote, and what I emphasised, particularly in my blog and my patient group, was that much of this was not fully integrated into NEN patient care as part of a multi disciplinary approach. Many attempts have…

14 Jun 2024

By Ronny Allan

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The Syndromes of Neuroendocrine Cancer – Early Signs of a Late Diagnosis

A spotlight on NENs - Syndromes, Awareness5-HIAA, Achlorhydria, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH), Alcohol, Angioma, Carcinoid crisis, Carcinoid heart disease, Carcinoid syndrome, Carcinoid tumour, Carney-Stratakis syndrome (CSS), Cerebellum, Cushing's disease, Cushing's syndrome, Dermatitis, Diet, Familial medullary thyroid cancer (FMTC), Fat malabsorption, Functional tumour, Gastrinoma, Glucagon, Glucagonoma, Haemangioblastoma, Hedinger syndrome, Hereditary pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma syndromes, Hypercalcemia, Hypercortisolism, Hypokalemia, Insulinoma, Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), MEN1 syndrome, MEN2 syndrome, MEN2A syndrome, MEN2B syndrome, NET syndromes, Neuroendocrine cancer, Non-functional tumour, Paraganglioma, Paraneoplastic syndromes, Pheochromocytoma, Pituitary gland, PPoma, SDHA, SDHAF2, SDHB, SDHC, Somatostatin analogues, Somatostatinoma, Surgery, Sweet's syndrome, The 5 E's, Verner-Morrison syndrome, VIPoma, Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) Syndrome, Von Recklinghausen's disease, Wermer syndrome, Whipple's triad

There are some curious things about Neuroendocrine Cancer (NETs elsewhere in the text on the basis that a hormonal syndrome is extremely rare in Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (NEC)). One of them is that it can very often exhibit one or more vague symptoms collectively known as a 'syndrome'. Syndrome is an apt word to describe these complications as the most general meaning in medical terms is a group of symptoms that together are characteristic of a specific disorder or disease". Having a syndrome can often be the difference between having a 'functional' condition or a non-functional' condition. This frequently makes NET …

23 May 2024

By Ronny Allan

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Neuroendocrine Cancer Nutrition Series Article 2 – Gastrointestinal Malabsorption

Diet and Nutrition, Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, Survivorship, TreatmentB12, Bile acid diarrhea, Bile acid malabsorption, Bile acid sequestrant, Bile acids, Bile salt, Carcinoid syndrome, Digestive enzymes, Endocrine, Fat malabsorption, Fat soluble vitamins, Gallbladder, Gut Flora, Hormones, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Lanreotide, Liver, Malabsorption, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Nutrition, Octreotide, Pancreatic cancer, Pancreatic NET (PanNET), Pernicious anaemia, Probiotic, Quality of LIfe (QoL), Side effect, Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), Small intestine NET (SI NET), Somatostatin analogues, Steatorrhea, Surgery, Vitamin ADEK, Vitamin B12, Water soluble vitamins

Neuroendocrine Cancer Nutrition Series Article 2 – Gastrointestinal Malabsorption is the second article in the Neuroendocrine Cancer Nutrition series. In the first article, I focused on Vitamin and Mineral deficiency risks for patients and there is a big overlap with the subject of Gastrointestinal Malabsorption. Those who remember the content will have spotted the risks pertaining to the inability to absorb particular vitamins and minerals. This comes under the general heading of Malabsorption and in Neuroendocrine Cancer patients, this can be caused or exacerbated by one or more of a number of factors relating to their condition. It's also worth pointing out that…

Tag: Fat malabsorption