Nutritional considerations in pediatric pancreatitis: a position paper from the NASPGHAN pancreas committee and ESPGHAN cystic fibrosis/ pancreas working group

This 2018 study focuses on optimizing the management of acute pancreatitis (AP), acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP), and chronic (CP) pancreatitis. The author suggests that nutritional management of these diseases vary depending on the physician and so would like to see better consensus for treatment. An evidence-based search of relevant research papers was carried out by a group of experts affiliated with two parties: the NASPGHAN Pancreas Committee; and the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN). Their expert recommendations were made based on studies analyzing nutrition in acute pancreatitis, acute recurrent pancreatitis, and chronic pancreatitis within a pediatric population. They found that there was limited evidence on nutrition in pediatric pancreatitis. Starting a nutritional regimen early during an attack was beneficial to children with mild acute pancreatitis. Early nutrition should also be attempted in severe acute pancreatitis when possible. In this instance, enteral nutrition (either natural food intake via the mouth or by feeding through a tube) is preferred to parenteral nutrition, which involves injecting nutritional products intravenously. On the other hand, children with acute recurrent pancreatitis are likely to tolerate and would benefit from eating a regular diet. Children with chronic pancreatitis require ongoing assessment for growth and nutritional deficiencies, as well as for exocrine and endocrine shortages. These statements were the first authoritative recommendations on nutritional considerations in pediatric pancreatitis. There were several gaps in knowledge revealed including the strategy for optimizing nutrition in children with acute pancreatitis, the role of diet and dietary supplements on recurrent attacks of pancreatitis and pain episodes, methods to detect early growth and nutritional deficiencies in chronic pancreatitis, and the risk factors that predispose children to these deficiencies. [NPID: pancreatitis, children, chronic pancreatitis, diet, nutrition, supplements, pancreatitis management]

Year: 2018

Reference: https://www.nutritional-psychology.org/wp-admin/post.php?post=10212&action=edit