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Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency - What it is and how RDNs can help!Pancreatic insufficiency treatment -
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is normally treated through a combination of lifestyle changes and pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy PERT.
Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy is medication designed to take over the role of the pancreas by replacing the digestive enzymes that the pancreas is no longer producing. When taken with food, PERTs help break down the nutrients in food.
PERT medications are only available by prescription. These treatments can help people with EPI eat and digest their food normally, allowing them to absorb nutrients and enjoy a better quality of life. If left untreated, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency can lead to feeling malnourished, fatigued and weak.
This is due to the poor absorption of vitamins and nutrients. Eventually, it can lead to thinning bones osteoporosis or anemia a deficiency of red blood cells. People most at risk for developing exocrine pancreatic insufficiency ETI include those with a damaged pancreas, or a health condition that keeps the pancreas from working as it should.
Others at risk include people with:. Join us as we reveal our new campaign to support health, education, and research in our community! Get Details. Meet Our Providers. Those symptoms include: Oily diarrhea Steatorrhea see below Bloating Gas Fatigue Cramps Pain in the center of the stomach that radiates to the back Loss of muscle Muscle cramps Pain in the bones Signs of vitamin deficiency brittle nails, hair loss and skin problems Diarrhea in people with EPI is referred to as steatorrhea.
Steatorrhea produces stools that are: Watery Pale or gray Bulky Frothy Greasy Extremely foul smelling Because these stools contain oily droplets and consist of large amounts of undigested fat, they often stick to the toilet bowl or float on top of the water, making them hard to flush.
Medical conditions and diseases that can cause EPI are: Chronic pancreatitis Cystic fibrosis A history of stomach, pancreas, or small bowel resection during surgery Pancreatic duct obstruction Shwachman-Diamond syndrome Because EPI symptoms are similar to symptoms of other diseases of the stomach and intestine, the condition tends to be underdiagnosed.
Tests to confirm the diagnosis include: Stool samples for laboratory analysis Blood tests to look for for fat deposits and vitamin deficiencies The doctor may also request a CT scan to examine the underlying causes of EPI. Alcohol can make it even harder for your body to absorb fat, and can damage your pancreas over time.
Eat a well-balanced diet. Eat healthy fats only, and eat smaller, more frequent meals to aid digestion. Take vitamin supplements. However, do this only on the advice of a physician fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. The U. Food and Drug Administration FDA has approved six PERT medications, which utilize the generic medication pancrelipase in different ways.
The brand name medications are: [ 7 ]. According to the AGA, PERT must be taken with food and at the start of each meal. The AGA recommends people with EPI eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy proteins. Your doctor may also prescribe and monitor vitamin and mineral supplements.
According to the NPF, these can include vitamins A, D, E, and K. Avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol use are good ways to prevent EPI, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Talk to your doctor if you need help to stop using alcohol or tobacco. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, symptoms of malnutrition include: [ 8 ].
EPI can also lead to a number of vitamin deficiencies. According to the Cleveland Clinic, vitamin D deficiency can cause soft, weak bones, which can cause pain and weakness.
Too little vitamin D can also result in a condition called osteoporosis , or the loss of bone density. Vitamin A deficiency is also common in people with EPI. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a deficiency in vitamin A can lead to vision problems like night blindness, or difficulty seeing in the dark.
According to a review article, the true prevalence of EPI is not known. EPI occurs with conditions affecting the pancreas. Two of the most common causes of EPI include: Chronic Pancreatitis This condition is characterized by chronic inflammation of the pancreas that does not heal or improve over time.
According to Mayo Clinic, risk factors for pancreatitis include heavy alcohol use, abdominal surgery, gallstones, an infection, obesity, high calcium or triglyceride levels in the blood, certain medications, cystic fibrosis, and pancreatic cancer. Cystic Fibrosis This is a chronic, progressive genetic disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs and affects the ability to breathe over time, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
In people living with cystic fibrosis , sticky, thick mucus builds up in the lungs and other organs, including the pancreas, which prevents them from working properly.
According to Mayo Clinic, the sticky mucus can block the digestive enzymes produced in the pancreas from reaching the small intestine, resulting in EPI. Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking. Sources Whitcomb DC et al. AGA Clinical Practice Update on the Epidemiology, Evaluation, and Management of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: Expert Review.
November Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency EPI. American Gastroenterological Association. Cleveland Clinic. June 10, National Pancreas Foundation.
About SDS. Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Foundation. Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency. Gastrointestinal Society. Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy PERT. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Vitamin D Deficiency. August 2, Boyd C. What Is Vitamin A Deficiency?.
American Academy of Ophthalmology. May 2, Capurso G et al. Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: Prevalence, Diagnosis, and Management. Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology.
March 21, Pancreatitis: Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic.
Pancreatic insufficiency treatment treat exocrine pancreatic Pancreatic insufficiency treatment EPI with pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy PERT and lifestyle isnufficiency. Doctors may recommend additional treatments Panreatic the diseases or conditions that cause EPI. To treat EPI, doctors typically prescribe PERT. PERT involves taking pills that contain pancreatic enzymes. PERT can improve your symptoms and help you get enough nutrients from what you eat and drink. CREON pancrelipase is a prespcription medicine insufficienc to treat EPI exocrine pancreatic insufficiemcy. EPI is Pancreatic insufficiency treatment condition insifficiency the pancreas doesn't Set meal frequency Pancreatic insufficiency treatment digestive enzymes to break down food. CREON treats EPI due to cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis and pancreatectomy by replenishing enzymes you are missing. Learn how healthy eating, vitamins and supplements, and lifestyle changes can help you manage your EPI. Offers subject to change or discontinuance without notice.
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