Abstract
In 23 adult patients with pancreatic insufficiency, we evaluated the efficacy of a pancreatic enzyme delivered as pH-sensitive enteric-coated pancrelipase microspheres, and compared it with placebo and other available enzyme supplements. In a short-term study, fecal fat was 23.5 ± 7 g/day with the microspheres, compared with 29.9 ± 8 with other supplements, providing fat utilization of 76 ± 7% versus 63 ± 10% (p < 0.05). Microspheres reduced daily stool frequency to 1.9 movements from 4.3 on other enzymes (p < 0.01). These results were obtained with an average intake of 10 microsphere capsules/day. In a year-long study of 22 patients, an average weight gain of 4.0 ± 1.1 kg was observed associated with return of near-normal social and work life-style in previously housebound patients.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.