Pancreatic Disorder

The pancreas is an organ located behind the stomach, responsible for producing enzymes for digestion.³

In addition, the pancreas produces hormones to regulate blood sugar levels in the body.³

Although a healthy pancreas is only roughly the size of a hand,3 it produces enough enzymes to break down food so that it can be absorbed by the gut into the bloodstream and used by the body.3 It therefore plays a major role in maintaining a healthy nutritional status.^1,3,4

A disorder called Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency (PEI) can occur when your pancreas does not produce enough enzymes to break down the food you eat.⁶

Without these enzymes, nutrients from food are not absorbed by the body.⁶

Although impaired pancreatic function could be hereditary, there are other conditions that could affect the pancreas, preventing it from producing the enzymes needed to function properly.²

These conditions include inflammation of the pancreas, cystic fibrosis or if your pancreas has been removed or affected by surgery.²

Loss of pancreatic function usually results in poor fat, carbohydrate and protein absorption. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat soluble, these are also poorly absorbed.²

• This deficiency could lead to: Malnutrition⁷
• Failure to thrive in children due to weight loss⁶
• Increased risk of osteoporosis, which causes bones to become weak and brittle^7,8
• Possible heart problems⁷
• Sarcopenia, which means loss of skeletal muscle mass and function^7,9

Yes, PEI can be treated!
The main goal of treating PEI is to replace the enzymes that your pancreas is not producing, to ensure correct digestion of the food you eat, and absorption of the nutrients.⁶

This treatment is known as pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT).⁶

CREON^® capsules should be taken at the start of meals and snacks

Capsules should be swallowed whole, not chewed

Alternatively open the capsule, pour the pellets onto a spoon and swallow without chewing