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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2013; 19(42): 7267-7275
Published online Nov 14, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i42.7267
Nutrition in chronic pancreatitis
Henrik Højgaard Rasmussen, Øivind Irtun, Søren Schou Olesen, Asbjørn Mohr Drewes, Mette Holst
Henrik Højgaard Rasmussen, Mette Holst, Centre for Nutrition and Bowel Disease (CET), Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Aalborg University Hospital, Faculty of Health, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
Øivind Irtun, Department of Gastroenterologic Surgery, University Hospital North-Norway, 9013 Tromsø, Norway
Søren Schou Olesen, Asbjørn Mohr Drewes, Mech-Sense, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
Author contributions: All authors contributed to this review.
Correspondence to: Henrik Højgaard Rasmussen, PhD, Professor, Consultant, Head of Centre for Nutrition and Bowel Disease (CET), Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Aalborg University Hospital, Faculty of Health, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark. hhr@rn.dk
Telephone: +45-99-326229 Fax: +45-99-326507
Received: June 20, 2013
Revised: September 24, 2013
Accepted: October 19, 2013
Published online: November 14, 2013
Core Tip

Core tip: The pancreas is a major player in nutrient digestion and malnutrition is frequently found but is often neglected. The severity of malnutrition is correlated with malabsorption and depletion of nutrients (e.g., alcoholism and pain) that causes impaired nutritional status and increased metabolic activity due to the severity of the disease. Good nutritional practice includes screening to identify patients at nutritional risk, followed by a thoroughly nutritional assessment and nutrition plan for risk patients. Treatment should be multidisciplinary and the mainstay of treatment is abstinence from alcohol, pain treatment, dietary modifications and pancreatic enzyme supplementation.