Enzymes of the pancreas: symptoms and treatment of enzyme deficiency
In the most complicated process of digestion, the enzymes of the pancreas play the most important role. They break down the main groups of compounds entering the human body - proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Restricting their development leads to the inhibition of the digestive process, and hence, to the occurrence of serious health problems. Taking special medicines containing enzymes, you can make up the pancreatic insufficiency that appears in pancreatitis.
Enzyme activity
In addition to producing insulin, glucagon and other vital hormones, the pancreas synthesizes more than a liter of special pancreatic juice every day.
In this juice there are about 20 enzymes - special compounds regulating the digestive process. The lack of enzymes leads to poor digestion and gastrointestinal problems.
As long as the enzyme compounds are inside the pancreas, they are inactive. Their activity begins only when the intestine is reached. Starts the work of enzyme compounds bile, which is present in the 12-типерстной gut. It activates the production of enterokinase enzyme, which gives a signal for the production of trypsin from non-working trypsinogen. It initially contains pancreatic juice. Then it is the trypsin that makes all the other enzymes in the pancreas work.
The development of enzyme compounds begins a couple of minutes after reaching the intestinal food, and lasts about 14 hours. The quantitative and qualitative composition of enzyme compounds depends on the food that the person used. If there is a defect, then there is a need to take special drugs that fill the deficiency of enzymes.
What synthesizes the pancreas?
Pancreatic cells produce enzymes that break down 3 basic types of complex substances entering the human body: carbohydrates, fats, proteins. These include:
- trypsin, chymotrypsin, ribonuclease, elastase, carboxypeptidase - enzymes that break down the protein;
- lipase, holisterase - broken into component fatty compounds;
- maltose, amylase, lactose, invertase - provide a phased digestion of carbohydrates.
All enzyme compounds are in the pancreas in an inactive state, otherwise they would start digesting its tissues. A complex biological mechanism is programmed for their work only outside the gland, that is, in the intestine.
As soon as a person has a deficiency of these enzymes, digestion problems begin. Often the symptoms of a malfunction in the pancreas appear with pancreatitis.
To introduce additional enzymes into the human body allow specially created medications. Only their oral reception is able to deliver these compounds to the right place.
If pancreatic activity is impaired
Decreased production of enzymes by the pancreas leads to inadequate or partial digestion of food ingested. Symptoms that occur when a synthesis of enzyme compounds are broken are as follows:
- severe pain under the ribs on the left side and the entire epigastric region;
- severity in the stomach;
- nausea or vomiting sometimes with an admixture of bile;
- constipation, diarrhea, flatulence.
If you have such symptoms, you need to contact the gastroenterologist for a checkup. The doctor appoints the necessary instrumental examinations, tests must be submitted, including blood biochemistry, treatment is selected, a diet is specified, medicinal enzyme preparations are prescribed.
The cause of a violation of the operation of the prostate can be :
- alteration of pancreatic tissues, for example, fatty infiltration;
- narrowing or blockage of ducts;
- edema of the prostate, for example, with pancreatitis.
Decrease in enzyme production
Synthesis of enzymes necessary for digestion is most often reduced in pancreatitis. This condition is called pancreatic insufficiency. Symptoms of pancreatic insufficiency are more pronounced, the less enzymes it produces. During an attack of acute pancreatitis, the pain becomes so intolerable, and all signs of a disruption of the work of the pantylaxis are so obvious that the only solution is hospitalization of the patient.
In pancreatitis, blood and urine tests must be submitted for the quantitative and qualitative presence of pancreatic enzymes. If the level of lipase and alpha-amylase appears to be elevated, this means that the negative changes in the pancreas begin. Also, with pancreatitis, the biochemistry of the blood shows a low content of magnesium, and this trace element is a building material for many enzymes.
Restrict the level of enzymes may be medications prescribed by a doctor. Based on the studies, tests and symptoms that occur with pancreatitis, the gastroenterologist prescribes diet and treatment.
Enzyme Drugs
These drugs are taken only as directed by the doctor when pancreatic insufficiency is treated. Enzyme agents are available in tablets, dragees and capsules. They are produced from the pancreas of pigs or bulls. The raw material undergoes a procedure of freeze-drying and is converted to pancreatin.
Fermented preparations do not tolerate elevated temperatures and aggressive gastric environment, so they are available for oral administration, and the active components are encapsulated. Such medicines include Mezim, Pancreatin, Creon and others, which are sold in pharmacies without a doctor's prescription. If there is pancreatic insufficiency, then take the medication while eating, which increases the activity and effectiveness of pancreatin.
Treatment of pancreatic insufficiency is aimed at restoring the functions of the pancreas. Refusal to drink alcohol, adherence to diet, fractional, frequent meals during the day, and replenishing enzyme deficiency drugs will ease the symptoms of inflammation of the pancreas and will further improve its functioning.
