Pancreatic Insufficiency

A lot of conditions could lead to pancreatic insufficiency, and although it’s a lifelong condition, it can be managed.

Pancreatic insufficiency

Pancreatic insufficiency occurs when the pancreas stops making enough digestive enzymes, or sometimes it happens when the digestive enzymes don’t work properly.

Those enzymes include lipase for fats, amylase for carbohydrates, and protease with elastase for proteins.

Pancreatic insufficiency can affect anyone at any age.

Causes of pancreatic insufficiency

• In adults, chronic pancreatitis is the main cause, and almost 8 out of 10 people with it develop pancreatic insufficiency. Other causes include inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, pancreatic cancer, diabetes, and surgeries of the digestive tract, like weight loss surgeries.
• In infants and children, the most common cause is cystic fibrosis. Almost 9 out of 10 infants who have cystic fibrosis develop pancreatic insufficiency within the first year. A condition that is called Shwachman-Diamond syndrome causes a part of the pancreas that makes enzymes to not function correctly.

Symptoms of pancreatic insufficiency

Pancreatic insufficiency causes difficulties in absorbing nutrients from foods, and that leads to the following digestive issues:

• Abdominal pain.
• Bloating and gas.
• Fatty stools.
• Diarrhea or constipation.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Pancreatic insufficiency causes the body to not absorb fats, proteins, and carbohydrates as it should, and that is called malabsorption. With time, this could lead to malnutrition, which is a very serious condition.

Diagnosis of pancreatic insufficiency

• Pancreas function tests.
• Imaging tests.

Treatment of pancreatic insufficiency

• Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy.
• Following a specific diet.
• Nutritional supplements.