Well, my theory would be that fat is not being broken down properly which relates to a fatty acid deficiency and the pancreatic dysfunction. The pancreas can become overtaxed when someone has a food allergy or sensitivity. It can become overtaxed for other reasons too. But if the pancreas does not produce enough enzymes to break down the fat then a person may not feel sated after eating a heavy meal. Or, just feel that they are craving fat perhaps. But without enough enzymes to break down fats, a fatty acid deficiency could occur.

That article on pancreatic dysfunction says it "might" be caused by decreased CCK secreation. In the book Brain Allergies, Philpott and Kalita explain the disease process and how it effects the pancreas. They say that the pancreas first stops producing bicarbonate. Without the bicarb in the small instestines the enzymes that are produced will not work because the environment is too acidic. So first the pancrease stops producing the bicarb and this leads to enzymes being wasted, and then the enzyme production will faulter too, eventually. Max Wolf claimed that people after the age of 27 (I think) do not produce enough enzymes. Enzyme production drops off with age and some believe that without enough enzymes our bodies will age faster than if we had sufficient enzyme levels. There isn't much that happens in the body without enzymes playing a role. Enzymes are unfortunately overlooked when it comes to health and nutrition. And the pancreas seems to be neglected too.

I started taking enzymes with food and on an empty stomach because I realized my nutritional deficiencies have effected my pancreas' ability to produce enzymes (and bicarb). I think I lost about 8 or 10 lbs. without changing my diet but just taking the enzymes. Of course that is not the only change I noticed from taking enzymes, but the one that is most relelvent to this discussion.

People would like to believe that their body can handle the fat, the protein, etc., that we eat everyday but that may not be so simple. Some think that high cholesterol levels may indicate a problem with the pancreas not producing enough lipase. And the digestive enzymes you take on an empty stomach can get into your bloodstream to go to work on any fat deposits accumulating in your clogged arteries.

Using enzymes may sound like a simple solution that people may think if it were really that simple wouldn't we know about then. How could something so simple, so cost effective not be known about? Well, our healthcare system is not really patient directed. Healthcare is more about what the doctor can provide which is mainly what the pharmaceuticals companies can provide. If there isn't a drug to treat some problem then the healthcare system doesn't always recognize the problem as real or as treatable. And that is not patient directed healthcare.

Does anyone know how *increased* lipase might fit into all of this? Soon after going completely gluten free, I began experiencing increased lipase levels accompanied by symptoms. No one knows why, exactly, but ther were not related to pancreatitis b/c the amylase levels were unaffected. Both are regulated by the pancreas...and reading these excerpts I think there's a connection...I just am missing something.

(Yes...I want ALL the answers, LOL)

I'd like to add to orthomoleculars comments that drs are hesitant to prescribe anything without clear cut reasons. My dr did reccomend enzymes, creon (a prescription pancreatic enzyme) and when I told him the pharmacist reccomended a nutural food store b/c of the corn allergy issue, he was surprised to find there were OTC enzymes available. So part of it is also they just don't know whats out there that isn't being pushed by the drug reps.

That is an interesting question. I found this question asked but not much of an answer.

http://www.postgradmed.com/issues/2002/04_02/cc_apr.htm

Macrolipasemia in Crohns may be a possiblitity, but seems to be rare.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract

It seems like doctors need to get out of their offices and see what is sold in health food stores sometimes. They usually have no clue about nutritional supplements and other things like enzymes. If it is not sold by the pharma companies then they just don't know about it.

Maybe there needs to be Health Food Reps instead of Drug Reps that come to the clinics. Wouldn't THAT be interesting!!!

Interesting post!

Hello everyone! I just located u all- from obt.
I think that enzymes are important. perhaps it is their diminishment which leads to the food not being correctly broken down and it is those proteins, fats and or sugars that are an irritant in some way to the lining of the stomach/intestine. also, dont they lead to putrefecation and build up of yeast etc. and the good bacteria is forced out. While this scenario occurs the leaky gut thingamajig happens to some people and the gluten/casein proteins escape to the bloodstream where antibodies and sometimes autoimmune mechanisms occur. this of course is a different scenario than that which is thought to occur with celiac( i think?).Perhaps, i have gotten even more confused since we all last met!

Now re the fatty acids and how that relates to what I was just talking about I am kinda lost. However, my son with adhd and Tourettes(now a senior in college, already having spent a term in Europe!) has very low cholesterol (122) which doc says is ok , but I dont know- could signal malabsorption.
Also, years ago he was found do be low in dha, epa and arachidonic acid, while still being high in linoleic acid- signaling a deficiency in desaturase 6, i think, which I just read is an enzyme.

very low cholesterol (122) which doc says is ok , but I dont know- could signal malabsorption.

My 17 year old son also has very low cholesterol (103). His triglycerides are 40 (HDL 45; LDL 50). I have yet to find a doctor that is concerned about this but I also think it is a sign of malabsorption. Dr. Fasano's nurse told me he is not concerned because only about 20% of blood cholesterol comes from diet (I think that is what she said). I plan to follow-up on this at my son's physical this winter. At least I would like to have a liver function panel done along with other things that would measure malabsorption. Let me know if you can recommend any follow-up tests.

Thanks.

--Judy

Hi Limpia! Nice to see you, and glad you found us .

Cara

I definitely think low cholesterol is malabsorption. Mine was very low until I went GF and within a year it was up 30-40 pts.

Grace

Hi cara, hi judy and everyone else-
judy- i havent yet given it any thought re testing- i will try and think, research it, and can take advice from everyone-you say liver panel, which is for what? enzymes? Do people use the the great smokey labs still? thanks-Limpia