The Pancreas

Crucial to Optimal Health and Longevity

By Nieske Zabriskie, ND

The pancreas is an organ in the digestive tract that provides numerous important physiological functions. The pancreas secretes several hormones into the blood as well as digestive juices into the duodenum (upper portion of the small intestines). The hormones secreted by the pancreas include insulin, glucagon and somatostatin. These three hormones are imperative for maintaining glucose homeostasis and cellular energy production by regulating glucose, amino acid and triglyceride levels. Insulin stimulates the uptake and storage of glucose, amino acids and fatty acids by the tissues when nutrient levels are elevated, such as after eating a meal. Glucagon opposes the action of insulin and increases blood glucose levels in between meals and at night in order to maintain sufficient nutrients for the tissues. It does this by stimulating the breakdown of glycogen, the storage form of glucose, and the breakdown of protein and fatty acids, which can be used to synthesize glucose. Somatostatin acts by inhibiting the secretion of both insulin and glucagon and inhibiting the release of pancreatic digestive enzymes and several gastrointestinal hormones.

The pancreas also plays an important role in digestion by secreting digestive juices into the duodenum, which assists in the breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The pancreatic juices consist of water, bicarbonate and the digestive enzymes such as the lipid-digesting enzyme lipase, carbohydrate-digesting enzyme amylase, the protein-digesting proteases and trypsinchymotrypsin and carboxypeptidase. These enzymes are secreted in an inactive state and are activated upon release into the duodenum. This is important to prevent the enzymes from digesting the cells in the pancreas. Bicarbonate functions to neutralize the acids coming into the duodenum from the stomach.

Problems with the pancreas can affect either the endocrine function (hormone release), the exocrine function (digestive enzymes) or both. Some conditions that affect the pancreas include diabetes mellitus, acute or chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

Diabetes, which affects 23.6 million Americans,¹ is a disease in which the pancreas does not secrete insulin (type 1 diabetes), or does not secrete enough insulin often as a result in part to insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes). Type 1 diabetes is generally considered an autoimmune disease, as the beta cells that secrete insulin are destroyed by the body’s own antibodies. Type 2 diabetes, however, is associated with lifestyle factors such as obesity, poor diet and inactivity. The pancreas initially increases insulin secretion in response to high blood sugar levels and a reduced response to insulin by the cells. Over time, the pancreas can no longer maintain the increased insulin production and insulin secretion is decreased.

Pancreatitis is a condition in which the pancreas becomes inflamed, and pancreatic damage occurs due to digestive enzyme activity before the enzymes are secreted into the duodenum. Acute pancreatitis is associated with gallstones, heavy alcohol use, elevated triglyceride levels, infection, trauma, surgery and metabolic disorders. Chronic pancreatitis is strongly associated with heavy alcohol use. Pancreatitis can cause malabsorption of nutrients as well as diabetes, depending on which cell types are damaged.²

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death overall.³ Risk factors associated with pancreatic cancer include increasing age, being male, cigarette smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, diabetes, chronic pancreatitis, liver cirrhosis, family history of cancer, high-fat diets, consumption of red meat, pork, and processed meats, and exposures to pesticides, dyes and chemicals.⁴

Optimizing Pancreatic Health

There are several ways to optimize pancreatic health such as maintaining a normal body weight, stabilizing blood sugar levels and reducing free radical damage.

Weight Loss

Multiple pancreatic disorders are associated with obesity including pancreatitis, diabetes and pancreatic cancer. Research indicates obesity is a risk factor for acute pancreatitis, likely due to the release of adipokines, which are cytokines or chemical mediators released by the adipose (fat) tissue. Several adipokines have been associated with increased susceptibility and severity of acute pancreatitis.⁵ Studies also suggest that abdominal obesity, more so than general obesity, is a risk factor for acute pancreatitis. In fact, the risk for severe acute pancreatitis increased by 16 percent for each 1 cm (less than an inch) increase in waist circumference, according to one study. Furthermore, abdominal obesity correlated with a 6-fold increase in pancreatitis risk.⁶

Obesity is related to decreased insulin sensitivity, which is important for both diabetes and pancreatic cancer. A large study showed that general obesity and central obesity was associated with an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The association was stronger for central weight gain, and individuals with central weight gain showed a 45 percent increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer compared to individuals who gained peripheral weight.⁷ Research also shows that weight gain increases the risk of developing diabetes. In one study using middle-aged women, the researchers showed that weight gain between 5-7.9 kg (11 to 17.38 lbs) almost doubled the risk of diabetes compared to women who were weight stable. Furthermore, this study showed that weight loss of 11 pounds or more in the women reduced their risk of diabetes by 50 percent.⁸

Thus, weight loss, and particularly abdominal weight loss, is important for pancreatic health. Weight loss improves insulin action, reduces fasting blood sugar, can prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes and reduce markers of inflammation and triglyceride levels.⁹ Glabrinex™, a lipid-soluble Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract standardized for the bioactive flavonoid glabridin, has been shown in both animal and human studies to reduce both total body fat as well as visceral (abdominal) fat.^10-12

Blood Sugar Balancing

Elevated blood sugar can be caused by increased intake of sugars and carbohydrates as well as pancreatic dysfunction, including reduced insulin secretion, pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Maintaining stable blood sugar levels reduces the risk of developing diabetes.¹³ Furthermore, diabetes increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer;¹⁴ thus blood sugar control can help reduce the likelihood of developing both diabetes and pancreatic cancer. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia),¹⁵ bitter melon (Momordica charantia),¹⁶ chromium,¹⁷ and vanadium (vanadyl sulfate),¹⁸ all found in GluControl™, have been shown to support healthy blood sugar levels. In addition, research indicates that both chromium and cinnamon also reduce triglyceride levels, important because high triglycerides are a risk factor for pancreatitis.^{17, 19}

Antioxidants

Sufficient antioxidants are important for pancreatic health. Inflammation induces free radicals and reactive oxygen species, which is likely the mechanism by which smoking, pancreatitis, obesity and diabetes increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.²⁰ Oxidative stress has also been shown to play a role in both acute and chronic pancreatitis.^21-22

Animal models have shown that tocotrienols inhibit the growth of pancreatic neoplasms by 80 percent²³ and vitamin C inhibits pancreatic mutagenesis and prolongs survival.²⁴ Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major constituent of green tea, has been shown to induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in abnormal pancreatic cells, as well as to inhibit the growth, invasion and metastasis of abnormal pancreatic cells.^25-26 Another study showed that subjects with the highest levels of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) were associated with a 48 percent decrease in the risk of the pancreas undergoing mutagenic changes compared to the subjects with the lowest levels of vitamin E.²⁷ According to one study, the risk of abnormalities in the pancreas is reduced by 31 percent in individuals with the highest intake of lycopene, 43 percent in individuals with the highest intake of beta-carotene, and 42 percent in individuals with the highest intake of total carotenoids, compared to individuals with low intake of the these carotenoids.²⁸ Thus, supplementing with various antioxidants, as found in Extension Antioxidant, can support pancreatic health.

Additional Support

Additional supplements that support pancreatic function include vitamin D3 and digestive enzymes. Research indicates that increased vitamin D levels reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer.²⁹ In fact, one study found that vitamin D reduced the risk of pancreatic cancer by 43 percent.³⁰ Furthermore, low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D have been associated with increased waist circumference and serum insulin levels compared to subjects with normal 25-hydroxyvitamin-D levels.³¹ Digestive enzymes are also supplemented frequently in patients with pancreatic insufficiency and pancreatitis to prevent malnutrition due to decreased nutrient break down and absorption.^32-33 Diet also influences pancreatic health, as several studies indicate that diets high in raw fruits and vegetables reduce the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.^34-35

Conclusion

The pancreas is an organ that provides several important physiological functions. Increasing intake of antioxidants (as in Extension Antioxidant) and vitamin D, balancing blood sugar (by using GluControl and reducing intake of carbohydrates and sugar), and reducing visceral fat (through exercise and Glabrinex supplementation) is important for optimizing pancreatic health.

References

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