Pancreatic Disorder

The pancreas is an organ located behind the stomach, responsible for producing enzymes for digestion.^1,2 In addition, the pancreas also produces hormones to regulate blood sugar levels in the body.² Although a healthy pancreas is only roughly the size of a hand,² it produces enough enzymes to break down food so that it can be absorbed by the gut into your bloodstream and used by the body. It therefore plays a major role in maintaining a healthy nutritional status.^1,2,3

A disorder called pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) can occur when your pancreas does not produce enough enzymes to break down the food you eat.⁵

Without these enzymes, nutrients from food are not absorbed by the body.¹

Various conditions can affect the pancreas and prevent it from producing the enzymes it needs to function properly.⁵
These conditions include pancreatic cancer, inflammation of the pancreas, cystic fibrosis or if your pancreas has been removed or affected by surgery.⁵

The most severe consequence of PEI is that your pancreas cannot break down the fats in your food and in turn, your body cannot absorb the fats from food.¹

Your stools will usually indicate that something is wrong. Since the pancreas is not breaking down the nutrients from your food, especially the fats, there will be a high content of fat present in your stool. The medical term for this is “steatorrhoea”, and when this is present, stools may appear frothy, foul-smelling and difficult to flush away.¹

Since the fat content in your food is not being absorbed by your body, you may also lose weight. Children with PEI are usually not able to gain weight.¹

Other symptoms that you may experience include stomach pain, bloating and wind.¹

The main goal of treating PEI is to replace the enzymes that your pancreas is not producing, to ensure optimal digestion of the food you eat and absorption of the nutrients. This treatment is referred to as pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT).¹

Pancreatic enzyme supplements are of porcine (derived from pigs) origin.⁵

If you have any concerns, discuss them with your doctor.

What?

CREON^® is a supplement for treating PEI and contains the enzymes your pancreas needs to help it function at its best.^8,9

Why?

CREON^® capsules are designed to deliver replacement enzymes at the right place and at the right time. It assists in optimising nutrient digestion and absorption.¹

How?^1,8

The CREON^® capsule is designed so that it can be broken down in the stomach to release the enzymes which are contained in minimicrosphere pellets. These tiny pellets cannot be broken down by the acid in the stomach as they are enteric coated (resist stomach acids). This allows the enzyme containing pellets to mix with food in the stomach.

Once the mixture of food and enzymes passes into the small intestine, the enzymes are released from the pellets to break down the fats, proteins and carbohydrates so that the body can absorb these nutrients.

For maximum benefit, it is important that CREON^® is taken at the same time as your main meals and snacks.^1,5,8,9

The correct dose of CREON^® depends on your condition, symptoms, diet and weight.^1,6,8,9