About EPI

Stay on top of your health

About EPI

About EPI

Stay on top of your health

When you have EPI, your body cannot properly absorb nutrients from fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.1-5 Ensuring you’re getting the nutritional support you need is key to maintaining your health with chronic pancreatitis (CP). Your healthcare provider may recommend that you take supplements to support your specific needs in addition to PERT.1,6,7

EPI CHALLENGES

Supplements selected to meet your unique needs may help address these nutritional challenges.1

Fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies:

You may be at risk for fat-soluble vitamin (A, D, E & K) deficiencies with CP even if your pancreas is still producing enzymes.* You will probably need to have your vitamin levels checked on a regular basis, and you may benefit from a supplement to support your body’s daily needs.‡6,8,9

*Fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies occur in the following amounts in people with CP: vitamin A in 3–14.5%, vitamin D in 58–77.9%, vitamin E in 9–24%, and vitamin K in 13–63%.1

Low levels of micronutrients:
As a patient with CP, essential minerals like magnesium, zinc, and selenium may be lower than normal.1,6,10-12 You may also be at risk for low iron and vitamin B12 — nutrients that are needed for your red blood cells to carry oxygen properly.‡1,13,14
Osteoporosis:

Approximately 2 out of 3 people with CP have osteopenia or osteoporosis (weak bones)1,6,8. If you have CP, you may need to take a calcium supplement if you don’t get enough calcium in your diet.‡1,6,15

Low levels of essential fatty acids (EFAs):

If you have CP, you might also have low essential fatty acids since they may not be easily digested and absorbed from dietary fats. 31% of people with chronic gut diseases have low levels of EFAs, and the changes to their EFA profiles are similar to the changes seen in people with CP. Omega-3 supplements may provide some benefit for people with EPI.‡4,16

Due to the nutritional risks associated with EPI, guidelines recommend yearly screening for deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins as well as low levels of EFAs and micronutrients.1,4,16

Nutrient 950 with Vitamin K and Cal/Mag (malate) 2:1

EPI challenges and
Pure Encapsulations® supplements

We have a selection of pure, premium supplements to help support the unique needs of people with EPI.
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Keep it up!

If you are already taking supplements, that’s great! If you start to notice improvements, you may still benefit from taking supplements.6,17,18 Make sure to talk to your healthcare provider about any changes to the medications and supplements you take.

Educational resources

Curious to learn more about EPI? Check out a list of helpful resources below.

See our full list of supplements to support your needs.
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You can also learn more about the PURE difference.
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References

1. Arvanitakis M, Ockenga J, Bezmarevic M, et al. Clin Nutr. 2020;39(3):612–631.

2. Brennan GT, Saif MW. JOP. 2019;20(5):121–125.

3. Imrie CW, Connett G, Hall RI, et al. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2010;32(1):1–25.

4. Alkaade S, Vareedayah AA. Am J Manag Care. 2017; 23(12):S203-S209.

5. Somaraju UR, Solis-Moya A. Paediatr Respir Rev. 2015;16(2):108–109.

6. Löhr JM, Dominguez-Munoz E, Rosendahl J, et al. United European Gastroenterol J. 2017;5(2):153–199.

7. Kocher HM, Kadaba R. BMJ Clin Evid. 2011;12(417):1–31.

8. Martínez-Moneo E, Stigliano S, Hedström A, et al. Pancreatology. 2016;16(6):988–994.

9. Sikkens ECM, Cahen DL, Koch AD, et al. Pancreatology. 2013;13(3):238–242.

10. Vujasinovic M, Hedström A, Maisonneuve P, et al. World J Gastroenterol. 2019;25(5):600–607.

11. Magnesium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. March 24, 2020. Accessed June 25, 2020. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium-HealthProfessional/

12. Girish BN, Rajesh G, Vaidyanathan K, et al. JOP. 2009;10(6):651–656.

13. Domínguez-Muñoz E, Castineira M, Larino-Noia J, et al. M1391. Gastroenterology. 2010;138(5):S-395.

14. Kumar SS, Chouhan RS, Thakur MS. Anal Biochem. 2010;398:139–149.

15. Calcium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. March 26, 2020. Accessed June 25, 2020. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/

16. Zeman M, Macášek J, Burda M, et al. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2016;108:38–44.

17. Domínguez–Muñoz JE, Iglesias–García J, Vilariño–Insua M, et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2007;5(4):484–488.

18. Ockenga J. HPB. 2009;11(s3):11–15.