Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency

Abstract

Comparative in vitro analyses of 14 commercial pancreatic supplements were performed as to their protease, trypsin, trypsinogen, amylase, and lipase contents. Extreme variation was found in the individual enzyme activities of the various preparations tested. Pancrelipase (Cotazym) had at least double the activity of all enzymes tested in comparison to the next most potent preparation. Two preparations were practically void of amylase activity and had very low lipase activity. Although trypsin and trypsinogen activities were quite variable, protease activity (toward hemoglobin) was the least variable factor tested.