■ Eighty-eight percent of the cohort had at least one abnormality in GI function, such as malabsorption. Because malabsorption can occur in the absence of diarrhea, malabsorption cannot be excluded on the basis of normal bowel patterns alone. Uncorrected, malabsorption can lead to malnutrition, wasting, and impaired quality of life.
■ In many cases, socioeconomic factors, not clinical factors, may be blamed for poor intake. Almost 8% of participants did not have access to adequate food.