Pancreatin insufficiency, also known as pancreatic insufficiency or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, is a medical condition that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough digestive enzymes to properly break down and absorb nutrients from food. This can be caused by a variety of conditions that affect the pancreas, including c
Symptoms
- Steatorrhea : Excessive fat in the stool, which can make the stool appear greasy and difficult to flush.
- Abdominal pain and bloating
- Weight loss
- Nutrient deficiencies: Malabsorption of nutrients such as vitamins A, D, E, and K can lead to deficiencies
- Diarrhoea
- Flatulence
Causes
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Cystic fibrosis
- Pancreatic cancer
- Coeliac disease
- Zollinger-ellison syndrome
- Gastrointestinal or pancreatic surgeries
Dietary Advice
- Eat small, frequent meals rather than eating three large meals per day which avoids overloading the pancreas.
- Limit fat intake
- Increase protein intake: Consuming protein supplements or protein-rich foods such as lean meat, fish, and poultry may be beneficial
- Avoid alcohol
- Consider vitamin and mineral supplements
Pancreatin
Pancreatin contains the three main groups of digestive enzymes: lipase, amylase and protease. These enzymes respectively digest fats, carbohydrates and proteins into their basic components so that they can be absorbed and utilised by the body.