The Role of our Small Intestine in Digestion and Crohn's Disease

Our small intestine is a really important part of our digestive system as it is where most of the nutrients from our food are absorbed that enables our body to function properly. Despite its name, our small intestine is a massive organ with an average length of 3 to 5 meters and a surface area the size of a tennis court. It take around 2-6 hours for food to move through it. It has 3 parts; the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

Our small intestines main job to breakdown and absorb nutrients, but it also plays a role in our immune system acting as a barrier only allowing certain things to enter our body – a gatekeeper of sorts.

Absorption of nutrients begins in our duodenum and continues as food moves through our small intestine. As you can see from the infographic below, certain nutrients are absorbed in certain sections of our small intestine, which is why inflammation in any specific area can lead to specific nutrient deficiencies.

There is quite a lot that goes on in our duodenum – enzymes (things which help to chemically break down our food) produced by our pancreas enter here to do their job. Bicarbonate is also introduced here to neutralise the strong stomach acid before the chyme reaches our jejunum. In addition, bile which is produced in our liver and breaks down fat, is delivered into our duodenum from our gall bladder (our temporary storage facility for bile once its been manufactured in our liver and awaits delivery to our small intestine to carry out its job).   

How can IBD impact the small intestine?

Crohns disease can affect any part of the small intestine but is most common in the ileum. The inflammation caused by Crohns in the small intestine leads to destruction of the intestinal lining which decreases the surface area where absorption of essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients takes place, leading to deficiencies. Lack of these nutrients can interfere with the proper functioning of our bodies, as they all play important roles, which is one of the reasons why so many other symptoms beyond gut symptoms can be felt in Crohn’s.

I have written a free e-book to help you find a way forward for your everyday life with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Whether you are right at the beginning of your journey with IBD or have been living with your condition for years and feel like you have tried almost everything, there are things you can do everyday, beyond the medication you are taking, to help you take back control.

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We are all wonderfully unique and what works for one person may not work for another so please seek help and advice before changing your diet to work out the right way forward for you.