Fat-soluble vitamin deficiency and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency among adults with chronic pancreatitis: Is routine monitoring necessary for all patients?

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is often associated with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), which may increase risk for fat-soluble vitamin depletion. Although vitamin D deficiency is widespread among the general population, vitamins A, E, and K deficiencies may more uniquely present in patients with CP. Yet, it is unclear whether fat-soluble vitamin status should be routinely monitored in all patients with CP or limited to those with EPI. The purpose of this review is to describe the laboratory status of vitamins A, E, and K in adult patients with CP and their association with exocrine pancreatic function. Five primary, observational studies met the inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis. Biochemical deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins were observed across trials but results varied with respect to whether EPI increased risk. Challenges related to the diagnosis and treatment of EPI along with potential confounders may contribute to the heterogeneity among study results. Although more studies are needed to determine the influence of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy on fat-soluble vitamin status as well as effective vitamin repletion strategies, clinicians should consider periodically screening for deficiencies in all patients with CP regardless of EPI to avoid associated health effects of vitamin depletion.

Risk factors and assessment considerations for essential fatty acid deficiency in nonparenterally fed patients using a case example.

Essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD) has most commonly been reported in parenterally fed individuals but may also present in patients receiving fat-restricted diets and in patients with fat-malabsorption disorders. This article reviews the physical and biochemical assessment for EFAD in clinical practice and disorders of fat malabsorption as potential risk factors for EFAD. A case report is included to describe the fatty acid profile of a patient with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency receiving low-dose pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy after a self-imposed fat-restricted diet. The current challenges with laboratory interpretation of essential fatty acid status are also discussed.

Utilization of Current Diagnostic Indicators to Characterize Pediatric Undernutrition among US Children.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of pediatric undernutrition in the US general population using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics/American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition consensus statement on identification of pediatric malnutrition (undernutrition). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data for years 2005-2014 was analyzed for children ages 1-13 years (n = 13,950) with valid anthropometric data. The prevalence of undernutrition was assessed through z-scores for weight-for-height, body mass index (BMI)-for-age, height-for-age, and mid-upper-arm circumference-for-age generated from the 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts. Children were stratified into: no undernutrition, mild undernutrition, and moderate or severe undernutrition. Descriptive statistics were used to identify the prevalence of undernutrition. Differences in Z-scores across growth chart metrics were compared across undernutrition categories using analysis of variance. The total prevalence of pediatric undernutrition in this sample was 0.4% (severe undernutrition), 2.0% (moderate undernutrition), and 10.9% (mild undernutrition) for all ages. Z-scores differed significantly across all levels of undernutrition for all anthropometrics, showing poorer mean growth metrics in those with undernutrition. Pediatric undernutrition is a prevalent condition that transcends the prior focus on <5th percentile of growth curves and impacts children across different demographic categories.