Nutritional profile of patients with chronic pancreatitis

The nutritional status of patients with chronic pancreatitis was assessed in 76 consecutive patients (63 males, mean age 35 ± 10 years; 13 females, mean age 40 ± 16 years) attending the pancreas clinic of a tertiary care hospital in India. A food frequency questionnaire was used to elicit information regarding dietary intake of food items. Nutrient intake was calculated using the 24 h recall method on a subsample of 20 patients. Anthropometric measurements were taken and haemoglobin and serum albumin were estimated. Thirty patients (45%) had made dietary modifications after they were diagnosed as having chronic pancreatitis. These changes in diet included a decrease in fat, spices and/or quantity of food consumed. Analysis of the qualitative data revealed that the majority of patients were taking wheat, lentils, vegetables, fruits, milk, curd, sugar and oils on a daily basis. The mean energy intake was 1750 ± 375 kcal in males and 1180 ± 246 kcal in females, which turned out to be 37% lower than the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA), both in males and females. Alhough most patients (86%) were in the normal range of Body Mass Index (BMI), 67% of the patients reported weight loss after onset of the disease. Biochemical parameters studied were in the normal range: haemoglobin 12.26 ± 1.99 gm% and albumin 4.05 ± 0.89 g/100 mL. We concluded that in patients with chronic pancreatitis, malnutrition occurs mainly due to a low intake of calories and protein as a result of dietary modification for symptomatic relief and pancreatic insufficiency. However, nutritional parameters such as haemoglobin and serum albumin are fairly well maintained.