CDHF Talks: Pancreatic Health and the Gut Microbiome
Written by: CDHF
Updated: November 29th, 2022
When the pancreas doesn’t work properly, you can develop disease such as Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency (PEI). When you have PEI, you don’t get the nutrition you need because your body can no longer absorb fats and some vitamins and minerals from foods. There are prescription medications that work for most people that give you a new supply of enzymes, so you can go back to digesting food the right way. Besides taking medicine, you can manage your symptoms by making sure you follow the right diet, one your dietician or doctor can recommend. Further to that, microbiome research is continuing to grow in the area of PEI, and is focusing on how altering the gut microbiome could have therapeutic value for this condition.
In this series of videos, gastroenterologist Dr. David Armstrong goes over the function of the pancreas, pancreatitis, PEI, the treatment options that are currently available, and research on the potential role the gut microbiome plays in affecting symptoms.
Watch the full version or skip to each section to find the answers you are looking for.
- Part 1: Overview of the Pancreas
- Part 2: Loss of Pancreatic Function
- Part 3: Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency
- Part 4: Managing Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency
- Part 5: Symptoms of Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency
- Part 6: The Gut Microbiome and the Pancreas
- Part 7: Research on the Microbiome in Pancreatic Health & Disease
Full Version:
Part 1: Overview of the Pancreas
- What is the pancreas and what does it do?
Part 2: Loss of Pancreatic Function
- What happens if your pancreas doesn’t work?
- What causes the loss of pancreatic function?
Part 3: Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency
- What is Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency (PEI)?
- What are the consequences of maldigestion and malabsorption?
Part 4: Managing Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency
- Can the way I eat help manage the consequences of Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency (PEI)?
- What is Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (or PERT)?
- Are vitamin supplements important?
Part 5: Symptoms of Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency (PEI)
- What should you watch out for if you have Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency (PEI)?
- What causes the symptoms with PEI?
- What are the treatments for PEI?
- What is the gut microbiome?
- What affect does the pancreas have on the gut microbiome?
- What affect does Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (PERT) have on the microbiome?
