- With Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist
Michael F. Picco, M.D.
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Michael F. Picco, M.D.
Michael F. Picco, M.D.
Dr. Michael Picco has been with Mayo Clinic since 1999. He is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. Dr. Picco is an assistant professor of medicine at College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, and a consultant in gastroenterology at Mayo Clinic in Florida.
He has authored numerous publications in the area of gastroenterology, including original research, editorials and textbook chapters. He works with a team of gastroenterologists that takes care of complex gastrointestinal conditions and has a particular interest in diarrheal illnesses and inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease). He is also active in medical education in training new gastroenterologist and internists.
"Mayo Clinic's website is an invaluable resource for patients and their families," Dr. Picco said. "Informed patients are better able to participate in their own health care. A patient's participation is vital to the treatment of his or her disease. I hope to assist in helping patients understand their digestive problems and current treatments that are offered. This will allow for better communication between patients, their physicians and other health care professionals."
Dr. Picco serves as a reviewer of new research for several medical journals in the area of gastroenterology and is an active member of the American Gastroenterological Association, American College of Gastroenterology and the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. He serves on numerous committees that address physician training, research and clinical practice in gastroenterology, both at Mayo Clinic and at the national level.
"Patients need to know about their disease, what to expect, the latest treatments and side effects so that they can make informed decisions about their health care. Gastrointestinal disease affects not only patients but also their families. My goal is to assure that our website provides accurate, reliable information and resources for patients. We must always provide the latest, most cutting-edge information to assist patients in dealing with their medical problems," Dr. Picco said.
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Question
Bezoars: What foods can cause this digestive problem?
I've heard that eating certain foods can cause bezoars. What are bezoars and how can I avoid them?
Answer
from Michael F. Picco, M.D.
A bezoar (BE-zor) is a collection of compacted indigestible material that accumulates in your digestive tract, sometimes causing a blockage. Bezoars usually form in the stomach, though they may also occur in the small or large intestine. Phytobezoars are bezoars composed of indigestible food fibers, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and fruit tannin. These fibers occur in fruits and vegetables such as celery, pumpkin, prunes, raisins, leeks, beets and persimmons.
Bezoars can also be composed of hair or hair-like fibers (trichobezoars) and medications (pharmacobezoars) that don't properly dissolve in your digestive tract.
Bezoars may cause lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, weight loss and a feeling of fullness after eating only a little food. Bezoars can also cause gastric ulcers, intestinal bleeding and obstruction leading to tissue death (gangrene) in a portion of the digestive tract.
Bezoars most often occur in people with certain risk factors, including those who've had gastric surgery that results in delayed stomach emptying. Bezoars may also occur more often in people who have decreased stomach size or reduced stomach acid activity. People with diabetes or end-stage kidney disease, and those receiving breathing help with mechanical ventilation also are at greater risk.
If you don't have one of the risk factors for bezoars, you're not likely to develop them. If you are at risk, reducing your intake of foods with high amounts of indigestible cellulose may reduce your risk.
- Ginsberg GG. Foreign bodies, bezoars, and caustic ingestions. In: Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/php/202832616-3/homepage. Accessed May 25, 2010.
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