Mal- (Mat-)

Mal- (Mat-) is a prefix denoting a disease, disorder or any deviation from the norm.

Malabsorption is a condition in which a person's absorption of one or more substances in the small intestine is impaired. Most commonly, the absorption of fats (causing steatorrhea), certain vitamins (such as B12, folic acid, vitamins D and K), electrolytes (such as calcium or potassium), iron, and amino acids is impaired. The main symptoms (depending on the absorption of which substances are impaired) are: weight loss, diarrhea, anemia, swelling and deficiency of various vitamins in the human body.

The most common causes of malabsorption are celiac disease, pancreatitis, fibrocystic degeneration, blind loop syndrome, or surgical removal of part of the small intestine.



The prefix “mal-” (Mat-) is used to denote a disease, disorder or abnormality in various fields of medicine and biology. In this case, “Mat” refers to malabsorption in the small intestine, which can lead to weight loss, diarrhea, anemia, edema and various vitamin deficiencies.

Malabsorption is a condition in which the absorption of certain substances in the intestine is impaired. This can be caused by a variety of causes, such as celiac disease, pancreatitis, surgical removal of the small intestine, or fibrocystic degeneration.

The main symptoms of malabsorption are weight loss, diarrhea (diarrhea), anemia (decreased number of red blood cells in the blood), edema (accumulation of fluid in tissues) and deficiencies of various vitamins. If a person suffers from malabsorption, they need to see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

In general, “Mat” is an important medical terminology that is used to describe various diseases and disorders in the body. It is important to understand that these terms may have different meanings in different areas of medicine, and for accurate diagnosis and treatment it is necessary to consult qualified professionals.



Mal- or Mat- is a prefix in medicine that indicates a disease or disorder. In this case, such a condition occurs - MALABSORPTION. But there are also other options for translating the English abbreviation, and some of them were given above. Remembering the basic abbreviations is the task of this article for dummies.

Malabsorption is a complex of changes and symptoms, sometimes not even of one organ or system. It develops in diseases of the stomach, pancreas, small and large intestines, and sometimes reflects the patient’s condition after removal of the intestines (even partial). One word reflects several disorders that influence each other and can affect the patient’s health.