Inflammation of the pancreas is called pancreatitis. It can be either acute or chronic, and repeat acute attacks can lead to chronic pancreatitis. Symptoms include abdominal pain that extends to the back, nausea, vomiting and excess amounts of fat in your stool. A common cause of pancreatitis is alcoholism, though other possible causes include autoimmune problems, complications of cystic fibrosis, and high levels of triglycerides in the blood. Acute attacks of pancreatitis may require no oral intake for a few days, followed by a slow introduction of foods. Nutrition for chronic pancreatitis aims to delay acute attacks, prevent malnutrition and alleviate pain.
Food Groups
You should incorporate foods from each food group in your diet. It is recommended you eat at least three 1-oz. servings of grains each day. From the grain group, 1 oz. is equal to one slice of bread or 1 cup of cereal. Choose whole grains when eating foods from the grain group. Aim to eat 2.5 to 3 cups of vegetables per day. Eat at least 2 cups of fruits each day. You should eat 5 to 6 oz. of meat and beans each day, as well as 3 cups of milk or other dairy products.
Foods to Avoid
A diet high in fat will cause pain and an increased amount of fat in your stool. Therefore, to minimize symptoms, eat a low-fat diet. Avoid all high-fat and fried foods. Any food prepared with added fats is not recommended. Sausages, hot dogs, bacon, poultry with skin, whole milk, cream, desserts, pies and cookies should all be avoided. Coffee is also not recommended. Most important, avoid all types of alcohol.
Enzymes
Your doctor may prescribe pancreatic enzymes to take with each meal and with snacks. The enzymes help digestion and absorption. If you have experienced weight loss due to your pancreatitis, the enzyme therapy might also help you gain weight. Weight loss occurs because pancreatic enzyme secretion is not sufficient, resulting in malabsorption. Malabsorption leads to loss of fat, protein and sugar in the stool.
Other Tips
You may benefit from eating small, frequent meals throughout the day. Make sure to drink plenty of liquids, excluding caffeine and alcohol. Because malabsorption is likely, you could be deficient in the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K and need vitamin supplementation. You could also be deficient in vitamin B-12, which should improve with enzyme therapy. Speak with a dietitian to determine a diet plan that is right for you.
References
- "Nutrition Therapy and Pathophysiology"; Marcia Nelms, et al.; 2007
- "American Dietetic Association's Nutrition Care Manual"; American Dietetic Association; 2009
- PubMed Health; Chronic Pancreatitis; January 2010
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