Oily or Greasy Bowel Movement
Oily or greasy stools are known as Steatorrhea – the formation of non solid feces. Stools may float due to excess fat from malabsorption, have an oily appearance and are often foul smelling.
What Causes Oily or Greasy Bowel Movement?
If your stool is also pale in color, then the problem could be cause by a lack of bile acids. Bile is greenish yellow and when it reacts with enzymes in the bowel it turns stools brown. It plays a vital role in the digestion of fats – it is formed in the liver, where it is principally composed of lecithin, cholesterol, pigments and salts. Most of the salts are reabsorbed back into the body. If feces does not have the required amount of cntact with bile – whether it be due to moving to fast through the body or there not being enough bile to go around – then it will affect the color and texture of your stool.
A greasy bowel movement may be the result of malabsorption (seen in IBS), chronic pancreatitis, gallstones, bacterial overgrowth, cystic fibrosis or use of slimming pills.
It may also be the side affect of eating non-digestible oils or fats; or one of medicines that prevent the absorption of dietary fats.
How to Cure Oily or Greasy Bowel Movement
You can usually be treated by a healthy diet and some prescription medicine. However to determine the true cause of your oily feces it is recommended you consult your physician.