Natural treatments for pancreatitis

• DEFINITION: Treatment of inflammation of the pancreas.
• PRINCIPAL PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENT: Digestive enzymes
• OTHER PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS: Antioxidants (beta-carotene, grape seed extract, lipoic acid, methionine, milk thistle, selenium, vitamin C, vitamin E), multivitamin-multimineral supplements
• NATURAL TREATMENT TO AVOID: Probiotics

Introduction

The pancreas is an organ that creates enzymes necessary to properly digest starch, protein, and fat. In addition, cells responsible for creating insulin are found in the pancreas. Pancreatitis is a condition in which the pancreas is inflamed. When pancreatitis is prolonged, pancreatic function declines, leading to malabsorption of nutrients and, possibly, to diabetes.

Pancreatitis occurs in three forms: acute (short-term) pancreatitis, recurrent acute pancreatitis, and chronic pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis is a painful condition, but with treatment, it ordinarily resolves in three to seven days. Causes include alcohol abuse, gallstones, extremely high blood levels of triglycerides, direct trauma to the pancreas, abdominal surgery and procedures, kidney failure, infection, and certain medications. The treatment of acute pancreatitis consists primarily of resting the pancreas by discontinuing all eating and drinking. Intravenous fluids are used to maintain fluid balance.

Recurrent acute pancreatitis involves multiple bouts of acute pancreatitis, sometimes in the context of a more mild, chronic condition. Each bout is treated as described in the foregoing paragraph.

Chronic pancreatitis is a more gradual process that leads to partial or complete pancreatic failure. Its most common cause is alcohol abuse, although the condition may also occur for other reasons or for no known reason. Chronic pancreatitis causes many symptoms, including, most prominently, abdominal pain, weight loss, diarrhea because of undigested fat, and mild diabetes. Treatment primarily involves the use of digestive enzymes (and, if necessary, insulin), dietary changes, and pain medication. If a person’s alcohol abuse contributed to the chronic pancreatitis, he or she should stop drinking.

Principal Proposed Natural Treatments

Digestive enzymes, the mainstay of treatment for chronic pancreatitis, can be considered natural products. The digestive enzymes prescribed by physicians for pancreatitis are not necessarily more powerful than their dietary supplement equivalent, and some experimentation with different products might lead to the best results. Excessive consumption of digestive enzymes can cause harm, however, and for this reason, a doctor’s supervision is strongly recommended.

Other Proposed Natural Treatments

Chronic pancreatitis leads to malabsorption of fat, which can lead to deficiencies of fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin A and vitamin E. In addition, chronic pancreatitis might impair absorption of vitamin B₁₂ and possibly other nutrients. While it is not clear that these deficiencies are severe enough to cause harm, it makes sense for people with pancreatitis to consider taking a multivitamin-multimineral supplement as nutritional “insurance.”

Antioxidants are substances that help the body neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are dangerous, naturally occurring substances that are thought to play a role in pancreatitis and many other conditions. A small, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of people with pancreatitis (chronic as well as recurring acute) examined the effectiveness of an antioxidant supplement providing 9,000 international units (IU) of beta-carotene, 540 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C, 270 IU of vitamin E, 600 micrograms (mcg) of selenium, and 2,000 mg of methionine daily. The results showed improvement in both symptoms and laboratory signs of disease severity. Similar results were found in a randomized trial of 127 men with chronic pancreatitis; six months of antioxidant treatment led to significant reduction in pain compared with placebo. Other natural supplements with antioxidant properties sometimes recommended for chronic pancreatitis include grape seed extract (a source of oligomeric proanthocyanidins), lipoic acid, and milk thistle.

In a detailed review of four studies, researchers concluded that the use of probiotics did not benefit persons with severe acute pancreatitis. Furthermore, according to one study, the use of probiotics led to an increased risk of mortality in persons with severe acute pancreatitis and should, therefore, be avoided.

Several other options for the natural treatment of pancreatitis exist though more research is needed to determine their effectiveness. Patients with pancreatitis have been advised to increase their intake of omega-3 fatty acids, coenzyme Q10, and alpha-lipoic acid. Herbs such as green tea, holy basil rhodiola, cat’s claw, reishi mushroom, Indian gooseberry, and grape seed extract have also been suggested as supplements that may complement traditional medicine. Individual case reports have shown limited effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in treating some symptoms of pancreatitis, though patients must ensure they find a qualified provider. These include licorice root, ginger root, Asian ginseng, and cinnamon Chinese bark.

Finally, research in the twenty-first century suggests that physical treatments can play a positive role for patients with pancreatitis. Acupuncture has been suggested as a natural treatment for pancreatitis as well as weight loss and exercise. Furthermore, eating a low-fat diet and controlling blood sugar are two other ways patients can lessen their pancreatitis symptoms.

Bibliography

Besselink, M. G., et al. “Probiotic Prophylaxis in Predicted Severe Acute Pancreatitis.” The Lancet 371 (2008): 651-659.

Bhardwaj, P., et al. “A Randomized Controlled Trial of Antioxidant Supplementation for Pain Relief in Patients with Chronic Pancreatitis.” Gastroenterology 136 (2009): 149-159.

Ehrlich, Steven D. “Pancreatitis Complementary and Alternative Medicine.” St. Luke's Hospital, 24 Mar. 2015, www.stlukes-stl.com/health-content/medicine/33/000122.htm. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024.

Geier, Elisabeth. “The Ins and Outs of Holistic Nutrition for Pancreatic Health.” Columbia University Department of Surgery, columbiasurgery.org/news/ins-and-outs-holistic-nutrition-pancreatic-health. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024.

Marotta, F., et al. “Fat-Soluble Vitamin Concentration in Chronic Alcohol-Induced Pancreatitis: Relationship with Steatorrhea.” Digestive Diseases and Sciences 39 (1994): 993-998.

Sun, S., et al. “Probiotics in Patients with Severe Acute Pancreatitis.” Langenbeck’s Archives of Surgery 394 (2009): 171-177.

Wong, Cathy. “Home Treatment for Pancreatitis: Diet and Natural Remedies.” Verywell Health, 6 Oct. 2022, www.verywellhealth.com/natural-treatment-for-pancreatitis-pain-89300. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024.