Elevated levels of Cholesterol in the stool may indicate inadequate absorption.
Having too much fat in your stool is called steatorrhea. If you have too much fat in your stool, it may be a sign that food is moving through your digestive system without being broken down and absorbed properly. This is called malabsorption.
You can develop malabsorption if:
- Your intestines don't absorb food
- Your pancreas doesn't make enough digestive enzymes
- Your liver isn't making enough bile. Your body needs bile to break down fats for digestion.
Symptoms of malabsorption include:
- Frequent greasy, loose stools in large amounts
- Indigestion
- Gas
- Cramps
- Foul-smelling, fatty stools
- Unintentional weight loss
Every lab result you’ve ever had, charted and explained.
Healthmatters is a tracker for your lab results. Upload a report from any lab, any country — every marker charted and explained.
Start with my report →All our content is backed by peer-reviewed studies, academic research, and trusted medical sources. We’re committed to accuracy and transparency — see our editorial policy for details.