Nutrition support for pancreatic disease and its relationship with sarcopenia

Abstract

Nutrition support is often required for patients with pancreatic disease, because exocrine and endocrine insufficiency can lead to malabsorption and diabetes. There is substantial evidence supporting nutritional therapy for patients with chronic pancreatitis, and an individualized approach based on disease severity and stage is recommended. To provide appropriate nutritional support, evaluation of skeletal muscle volume and physical function is important. A decreased volume of skeletal muscle and sarcopenia are associated with lower quality of life (QOL) and an increased risk of hospitalization and mortality. Evidence for the use of nutritional therapy in patients with acute pancreatitis (subacute or later phase) and pancreatic cancer is still poor, but our studies suggest that adequate nutritional support is also important for patients with these diseases. This article reviews the clinical relevance of nutritional therapy for patients with chronic pancreatitis, acute pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer, showing some of the results of our recent research.