Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Steatorrhea?SymptomsComplicationsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Steatorrhea?
Symptoms
Complications
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
When to See a Provider
Steatorrheaoccurs when you have too much fat in your stool (poop). Fatty stools will be pale in color and looser than normal. Poop with too much fat in it may also float and have a bad smell.
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Steatorrhea means you have too much fat in your stool. Although it can happen when you eat foods that are very high in fat, steatorrhea that happens often can be a sign that you have a problem with your digestive system.
Steatorrhea isn’t a medical condition itself, but it can be a symptom of a medical condition. The main cause of steatorrhea is fat malabsorption, which happens when your body has difficulty breaking down and metabolizing fats from your diet.
Steatorrhea Symptoms
With steatorrhea, stools contain a lot of fat, so you might notice they have a greasy film coating. You might also see drops of grease or oil in the toilet water or on toilet paper after you wipe. Steatorrhea is oftenlight-colored or pale.
If you have steatorrhea, your stool may also be:
Other symptoms of fat malabsorption may include:
Is Steatorrhea Serious?
Occasional, mild-to-moderate cases of steatorrhea may be unpleasant but usually are not anything to be concerned about. If you have steatorrhea often, however, you should see a healthcare provider.
Steatorrhea itself is not serious, but it can be a sign of an underlying condition that is serious. This is particularly true if you experience fatty stools regularly or with other symptoms such as:
For example, steatorrhea can be associated withmalnutritionor weak bones (osteoporosis).
When essential nutrients are not properly digested and absorbed, they do not reach the cells and organs that need them to function properly. As a result, fat and nutrients remain in the stool and are excreted. If this occurs over a long period, unintentional weight loss and nutritional deficiencies can occur.
Steatorrhea Causes
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) occurs when the pancreas does not make enough digestive enzymes (proteins that help speed up chemical reactions) for normal fat breakdown or digestion.The result is fat remaining in your stool instead of being digested and absorbed into your body.
Bile Duct and Liver Disease
Bile salt deficiencyis another common reason for steatorrhea. Diseases in your liver and bile ducts decrease the liver’s ability to make bile salts and the bile ducts' ability to deliver it. Bile salts are needed to help break down fats, aid in digestion, absorb vitamins, and eliminate toxins.
Conditions that may cause insufficient bile in the body include:
Malabsorption
Another cause of steatorrhea can bemalabsorptiondue to intestinal conditions that affect the intestinal tract’s ability to absorb fat and nutrients.
Intestinal conditions that may cause malabsorption include:
Medication Side Effects
Some medications can cause changes to your stool, including steatorrhea. Alli or Xenical (orlistat) are examples.
Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor, which means it prevents some of the fat in foods consumed from being absorbed in the digestive tract. This means it stays in the stool.
What Foods Cause Steatorrhea?
Although it’s unusual, eating very high-fat and/or very high-fiber meals might cause short-term steatorrhea.
Common foods high in fat and/or fiber that may lead to steatorrhea include:
Excessive alcohol can also lead to fatty stools.
Other Causes
Some other potential causes of steatorrhea include:
Diagnosing Steatorrhea and Its Causes
To diagnose steatorrhea, a healthcare professional will usually ask about your symptoms and review your medical history. They might also order tests to check the fat content of your stool.
Steatorrhea Treament
Treatment for steatorrhea depends on the cause. Work with a healthcare provider to correctly diagnose the cause of fatty stools and accompanying symptoms.
Lifestyle Changes
Mild or acute cases of steatorrhea may be treated at home. This includes:
Diet
If your steatorrhea is associated with a medical condition that is treated with diet, additional changes to what you eat and drink can help. For example, avoid foods and beverages withlactoseif you are lactose intolerant.
If you have celiac disease, avoiding allfoods and beverages containing glutenis essential to help decrease symptoms.
Medications
Sometimes a combination of dietary changes, medication, and nutritional supplements are needed to treat conditions that cause steatorrhea.
For example, people with EPI need to ensure they eat a healthy, nutrient-rich diet, takepancreatic enzymeswith each meal and snack, and take vitamins and supplements to ensure they get all the nutrients they need.
Other medications may include:
Consult your healthcare provider if you have chronic or severe steatorrhea associated with other malabsorption symptoms.
Additional Testing
If your doctor diagnoses steatorrhea, you will likely need additional testing to identify the underlying cause, such as:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Severe or chronic steatorrhea requires attention from a healthcare provider.
Also contact your provider if you experience symptoms associated with related complications, including:
Summary
Most mild or acute cases can safely be treated at home. However, severe or chronic cases require medical attention to determine the underlying cause of your steatorrhea. The cause dictates proper treatment.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Malabsorption.
HealthyChildren.org.Malabsorption.
The National Pancreas Foundation.Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI).
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