[Effects of diet therapy on the course of chronic pancreatitis: ambulatory follow-up data]

The data of clinical, laboratory-biochemical and immunological investigations conducted in 75 patients with chronic pancreatitis have been analyzed. The patients who received diet therapy were investigated under clinical conditions and during dispensary follow-up (6-9 months after the discharge from the clinic). The ration, sparing mechanically and chemically the digestive organs, included on an average 120 g protein, 85 g fat and 350 g carbohydrates. The main clinical symptoms of the disease diminished under the influence of the diet therapy. Improvement of the pancreas function was recorded in the absolute majority of the patients (normalization of activity of proteolytic enzymes assayed in the blood serum: trypsin, trypsin-inhibitor, amylase, lipase). Favourable changes were also observed in immunological parameters. When the patients followed the dietetic recommendations at home, the positive effect of the diet therapy was enhanced. A conclusion has been made that patients with chronic pancreatitis should be given diet therapy not only under clinical but also under dispensary conditions, thus inhibiting the disease progressing.