Malabsorption

Pancreatic Cancer Action
Patient Information Booklets

Diet and Nutrition for Patients

This booklet contains information about how pancreatic cancer can affect your diet and nutrition. Provides information on managing dietary symptoms such as malabsorption, enzyme replacement, poor appetite, weight loss and managing diarrhoea. Contains a section about dietary supplements and information about diabetes and diet.

Recipe Book Front Cover
Patient Information Booklets

Patient Recipe Book

This recipe book provides advice on how best to combat cancer-induced weight loss and other eating related problems whilst undergoing pancreatic cancer treatment. It features over 80 quick, easy and energy dense recipes for nourishing meals and snacks that have been created specifically for people who find it hard to maintain a healthy weight.

Malabsorption is caused by damage to or removal of part of the pancreas.

This causes a change in the flow and amount of the pancreatic juice produced. Pancreatic juice contains enzymes that help the body to digest and absorb nutrients such as fat, carbohydrate and protein. 

Without digestive enzymes, food passes through the digestive system without being broken and absorbed. This is called malabsorption. 

Different enzymes have the job of breaking down different types of food

  • Proteins are broken down by proteases.
  • Starchy carbohydrates are broken down by amylase.
  • Fats are broken down by lipase.

Some of the signs of malabsorption can include

  • Good appetite and food intake but with continuing weight loss. 
  • Pale stools that are smelly and difficult to flush away. 
  • Bowel movements may also be more frequent and looser than normal, this is called steatorrhea. 
  • Bloating and abdominal pain after eating can be a result of starchy carbohydrates (bread, cereal, pasta and potatoes) not being absorbed 
  • Loss of weight and weaker muscles. 
  • A lot of flatulence (wind). 
  • Lower than usual blood sugars in people with diabetes. 

If you are suspected to be suffering from malabsorption, you will usually have pancreatic enzymes prescribed to help you break down your food and absorb nutrients again. 

Controlling malabsorption

Malabsorption can be controlled and prevented using pancreatic enzyme replacement. These are medications to replace the lost enzymes that are taken with meals, help you break down and start to absorb nutrients again. 

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Information Product № Published 15/10/2019
Last Updated 18/07/2024 Next Review Due 18/07/2027