Mitteabsorbeeruvad

Mitteabsorbeeruvad is an Estonian term used in nutrition, medicine and gastroenterology to describe substances that are not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The word combines mitte, meaning not, with absorbeeruvad, meaning being absorbed. In medical texts it refers to compounds that pass through the gut largely unchanged and exert effects locally within the digestive system rather than systemically.

In practice, nonabsorbable substances include insoluble dietary fibers such as cellulose and certain lignins, as well as some synthetic polymers used as bulking agents. These substances increase stool bulk, influence bowel movement, and can modify the physical properties of the intestinal contents. Some nonabsorbable agents are designed to bind substances within the gut, such as certain medications or nutrients, to alter their absorption or excretion. The category also encompasses materials like barium sulfate, which is intentionally not absorbed to provide radiopaque imaging of the gastrointestinal tract.

The term is useful for distinguishing effects that arise locally in the gut from those that would occur if a substance were absorbed into the bloodstream. Nonabsorbable compounds can affect mineral absorption, gut motility, and the microbiome, depending on their fermentability and physical form. Safety considerations focus on gut tolerance, the risk of obstruction with high fiber content, and interactions with other nutrients or drugs.

See also: absorption, dietary fiber, bulking agent, laxatives, bile acid sequestrants.