​HASHIMOTOS AND PANCREATIC ENZYME DEFICIENCY

Dr. M de Klerk

If you have too little pancreatic enzymes, you will not be digesting and absorbing fats. You may have digestive upsets as well as other symptoms such as low energy and increased cravings for starches. This will be because fats, that are a more sustained source of energy in your body, will be undigested and not absorbed for energy usage.

Symptoms of fat malabsorption syndrome:

• Indigestion or fullness 2-4 hours after a meal
• Bloating or flatulence 2-4 hours after a meal
• Undigested food in stool
• Greasy/floating/light colored stools
• Burping
• Diarrhea with or without grease/oil
• Gallbladder pain, gallstones, gallbladder removed.
• Low vitamin levels esp. A, D, E and K.
• Muscle wasting
• Low energy end cravings for carbs
• Dry skin
• Hormonal imbalance esp. estrogen dominance
• Adrenal issues

Essential fatty acid deficiency symptoms:

• Soft, cracked, or brittle nails
• Dry hair, dandruff, or oily scalp
• Dry, itchy, scaly, or flaky skin, rashes, eczema
• Hard earwax
• Chicken skin (tiny bumps on the back of arms)
• Joint aches or stiffness
• Depression
• Weight loss

Symptoms of deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E and K
Vitamin A deficiency

• Dry skin
• Acne and skin disorders
• Dry eyes
• Night blindness
• Poor wound healing

Vitamin D deficiency

• Immune system imbalance
• Poor wound healing
• Fragile bones, bone loss or pain
• Muscle weakness
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Hair loss

Vitamin E deficiency

• Muscle weakness
• Numbness or tingling
• Vision problems
• Coordination and balance problems when walking
• Immune system imbalance

Vitamin K deficiency:

• Bleeding nose or gums
• Easy bruising
• Blood in urine or stool
• Heavy periods
• Excessive bleeding from a cut or wound.

If you are concerned, or can identify some of these symptoms in yourself, you can contact your health care practitioner to help you with identifying, testing, and supplementing with the correct enzymes. Supporting the pancreas, as well as the liver and gallbladder is essential for patients with fat malabsorption syndrome.
In the next article we will discuss what you can do to improve your fat digestion, without taking a supplement.