Nutrition therapy in acute and chronic pancreatitis

Abstract

Pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease associated with disorders of nutrient assimilation and, as a result, with significant changes in the nutritional status.
 All patients with acute pancreatitis should be considered at nutritional risk and should be screened using validated screening methods. The optimal nutritional treatment for acute pancreatitis has been debated for decades. The traditional approach was "nothing in the mouth", only parenteral nutrition until the acute symptoms disappear and the level of serum pancreatic enzymes decreases. However, this tactic can contribute to various complications, starting with malnutrition and ending with sepsis due to damage of the intestinal mucosa. Clinical trials and meta-analyses have shown that patients with acute pancreatitis can tolerate oral nutrition and that oral / enteral nutrition is associated with a shorter hospital stay and a lower rate of complications compared to solely parenteral. Therefore, early oral nutrition with a low-fat "soft food" is recommended. In case of oral feeding intolerance, enteral nutrition is preferable, but not parenteral supply. A combination of enteral and parenteral nutrition may be recommended in patients who do not tolerate a sufficient amount of enteral nutrition.
 Malnutrition in chronic pancreatitis cannot be detected using BMI alone, and a detailed nutritional assessment is required, including assessment of symptoms and organic functions, anthropometry, and biochemical tests. Nutritional therapy in chronic pancreatitis should be multifactorial and based on abstinence from alcohol and nicotine, and diet modification. International guidelines no longer recommend severe dietary fat restriction; on the contrary, a physiological diet is recommended, but with adequate replacement of pancreatic enzymes. In case of intolerance to physiological nutrition, a low-fat diet with oral nutritional supplements is recommended to replenish energy and nutrients.
 This is a review of recent studies and guidelines on nutrition in pancreatitis for physicians and medical trainees.