Diet and pancreatic cancer –
support with eating and digestion

• The pancreas produces enzymes which digest (break down) food.  

• Pancreatic cancer can reduce the number of enzymes that your pancreas makes. It can also block the enzymes from getting to where they are needed for digestion. This means you don’t get the nutrition you need from your food.  

• This can cause symptoms like weight loss, indigestion, tummy pain, feeling sick, bloating and wind, and changes to your poo. 

• The symptoms can often be managed with pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). This replaces the enzymes normally made by the pancreas.  

• PERT is available on the NHS. The brand names are Creon®, Nutrizym®, or Pancrex®. 

• We know that there have been problems with the supply of some brands of PERT recently. If this is affecting you, find out more in our blog, including things you can do. 

• You do not need to follow a special diet if you have pancreatic cancer, and there are no foods to avoid.  

• PERT can make a big difference to how you feel. It can also help you cope better with treatments like chemotherapy. 

References

We have listed some of the references to the sources used to write this information. If you would like the full list of references, email us at publications@pancreaticcancer.org.uk

• Nofal YH, Abu Dail Y, Assaf Y, Abo Samra H, Abbas F, Hamzeh A, Alhaj Hasan N. Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy for steatorrhoea in pancreatic cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. [Online] 2018;2: CD012952. Available from: DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012952.
• Phillips ME, Hopper AD, Leeds JS, Roberts KJ, McGeeney L, Duggan SN, Kumar R. Consensus for the management of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency: UK practical guidelines. BMJ Open Gastroenterology. [Online] 2021;8(1):e000643. Available from Consensus for the management of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency: UK practical guidelines
• Layer P, Kashirskaya N and Gubergrits N. Contribution of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy to survival and quality of life in patients with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 2019; 25(20): 2430-2441. Available from: doi: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i20.2430.
• Chaudhary A, Domínguez-Muñoz JE, Layer P, Lerch MM. Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency as a Complication of Gastrointestinal Surgery and the Impact of Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy. Digestive Diseases. [Online] 2020;38(1):53-68. Available from: doi:10.1159/000501675
• Emanuel A, Krampitz J, Rosenberger F, Kind S, Rötzer I. Nutritional Interventions in Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review. Cancers. 2022;14(9):2212. Available from: doi:10.3390/cancers14092212.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following people who reviewed our information on Diet and pancreatic cancer.

• Emma Westmancoat, HPB Clinical Lead Dietitian, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Mary Phillips, Advanced Clinical Practitioner / Senior Specialist Dietitian (Hepato-pancreatico-biliary surgery), Royal Surrey Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Pancreatic Cancer UK Lay Information Reviewers
• Pancreatic Cancer UK Specialist Nurses