Nutrition in acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) has varying severity, and moderately severe and severe AP has prolonged hospitalization and requires multiple interventions. These patients are at risk of malnutrition. There is no proven pharmacotherapy for AP, however, apart from fluid resuscitation, analgesics, and organ support, nutrition plays an important role in the management of AP. Oral or enteral nutrition (EN) is the preferred route of nutrition in AP, however, in a subset of patients, parenteral nutrition is required. EN has various physiological benefits and decreases the risk of infection, intervention, and mortality. There is no proven role of probiotics, glutamine supplementation, antioxidants, and pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in patients with AP.

Automated summary

Acute pancreatitis can be of varying severity, and patients with moderately severe and severe AP often have prolonged hospitalization and require multiple interventions. These patients are at risk of malnutrition. Apart from fluid resuscitation, analgesics, and organ support, nutrition, particularly through oral or enteral routes, plays a crucial role in managing AP as it provides various physiological benefits and reduces the risk of infection, interventions, and mortality. The use of probiotics, glutamine supplementation, antioxidants, and pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in AP patients has not been proven effective.