What are the symptoms of pancreatic insufficiency?

What are the symptoms of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI)?

• Abdominal pain, gas and bloating.
• Constipation.
• Diarrhea.
• Fatty stools (pale, oily, foul-smelling poop that floats).
• Unexplained weight loss or failure to thrive in infants and children.

How do you know if you have pancreatic insufficiency?

Pancreatic insufficiency is suspected in a patient who develops diabetes, upper abdominal pain and features of malabsorption. Bowel movements classically are bulky, loose and foul smelling; because of their oily nature, they may float in the toilet bowl, and are difficult to flush.

What happens if you have pancreatic insufficiency?

If you have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), your body cannot properly digest fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in the food you eat. In addition to preventing adequate digestion, EPI produces uncomfortable gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms.

Is Pancreatic Insufficiency serious?

Damage to the cells producing pancreatic enzymes leads to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, which is a serious problem leading to malnutrition, complications, and poor quality of life.

Can pancreatic insufficiency be reversed?

There's no cure for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), a chronic condition characterized by an inability to digest certain nutrients, especially fat. But EPI can be managed with a type of medication called pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), which consists of enzymes that aid digestion.

What foods should be avoided with pancreatic insufficiency?

Avoidfried, creamy, or cheesy foods, such as pastries. You'll also want to avoid trans fat, a hydrogenated oil and particularly unhealthy type of fat that's often found in packaged food, says Massey, and steer clear of alcohol. While it may take some planning, it's possible to eat a healthy, satisfying diet.

What happens if EPI goes untreated?

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).

What does EPI poop look like?

Foul-smelling, greasy stools (steatorrhea)

People with EPI cannot absorb all of the fat that they eat. The undigested fat that passes through the digestive system may cause oily or greasy-looking stools. These stools may also smell really bad, float, and be difficult to flush.

How do you fix pancreatic insufficiency?

You can't cure EPI, but pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy can greatly reduce uncomfortable digestive symptoms. Follow your healthcare provider's recommendations for taking PERT, and be sure to take it with every meal or snack. A dietitian can help you get the fats, nutrients and vitamins you need for good health.

How common is pancreatic insufficiency?

The incidence of EPI in chronic pancreatitis ranges from 30% of patients with mild disease to 85% with severe disease[3]. Approximately 85% of infants with cystic fibrosis have EPI at birth[4].

What is the main organ of the body affected by EPI?

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a condition that happens when there's a problem with your pancreas, mainly with how well it helps you digest food. Your pancreas makes enzymes that break down the fats, proteins, and starches you eat so your body can use them.

Is Pancreatic Insufficiency the same as pancreatitis?

Overview. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) and pancreatitis are both serious disorders of the pancreas. Chronic pancreatitis is one of the most common causes of EPI.

Does EPI ever go away?

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) may be managed, but it cannot be cured. EPI is treated by a combination of lifestyle changes and pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT).

How can I naturally increase my pancreatic enzymes?

Digestive enzymes can be obtained from supplements or naturally through foods. Foods that contain natural digestive enzymes include pineapples, papayas, mangoes, honey, bananas, avocados, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, kiwifruit and ginger.

Does pancreatitis cause gas?

Gas Is a Very Common Symptom of Pancreatitis

But flatulence that's accompanied by swelling in the abdomen, fever, nausea, and vomiting is not. These symptoms can be warning signs of pancreatitis — inflammation of the pancreas, which assists in the digestive process. Gas is a very common symptom of pancreatitis.

Is Pancreatic Insufficiency painful?

If you have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, or EPI, you're probably no stranger to bloating and abdominal cramps. Even if you're taking pancreatic enzymes and eating a healthy diet, which should at least significantly reduce your symptoms, it's still possible to experience an occasional bout of stomach pain.

Can pancreatic insufficiency cause diarrhea?

“When the pancreas fails to produce the necessary digestive enzymes, fats and other nutrients can't be absorbed,” Agrawal explains. “Instead, they remain in the small bowel, drawing in water and causing diarrhea.”

Where is the pain with EPI?

Fat maldigestion due to EPI can lead to gas, bloating, and stomach pain.

How do you get tested for EPI?

An X-ray or computed tomography (CT) scan may help, and a fecal fat test can be effective, although it requires large stool samples. These tests are commonly used to help diagnose EPI: A fecal fat test involves looking at a stool sample under a microscope. The most common test, according to Dr.

What is the difference between IBS and EPI?

People with IBS will see mucus in their stool, says Dr. Anderson, rather than fat. (Fatty stools, or steatorrhea, are a telltale sign of EPI.) Like those of EPI, IBS symptoms tend to occur after eating, but IBS may also be triggered by stress, infection, and other factors.

What are good foods to eat if you have EPI?

Eating Well With EPI

• Go for lean proteins, like chicken or turkey breasts, egg whites, or tuna packed in water. This will provide your body with the fuel it needs while keeping your meals low in fat.
• Avoid too much fiber. ...
• Be careful with processed foods. ...
• Eat enough calories.

Do probiotics help with EPI?

Probiotics may be an especially good idea if you've been taking antibiotics, as they may help replenish the beneficial bacteria in your digestive tract that the antibiotics may have killed off along with the harmful bacteria that caused the infection.

What vitamins help the pancreas?

"Vitamins C and E and selenium are good for your general health. And it may be that they help to prevent against pancreatic cancer as well.
...
Vitamin C is found in fruits and vegetables such as :

• citrus fruits.
• red berries.
• red and green bell peppers.

What causes severe pancreatic insufficiency?

When the pancreas becomes inflamed and stays that way for years, eventually its cells stop working the way they should, including those that can cause EPI. Many things can lead to chronic pancreatitis, including heavy alcohol use, smoking, genetic problems, and autoimmune disorders.

Can pancreatic insufficiency cause constipation?

One of the telltale signs of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) — a condition in which the pancreas fails to produce enough digestive enzymes — are loose, oily stools. But some people with EPI can also experience a very different symptom: intermittent constipation.