May be linked to the substantial release of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) from internal stores. That doesn't mean that calcium supplements are the enemy. It means that if you have some weird happenings within your cells (maybe due to an autoimmune disease) that the release of intracellular calcium may play a big role in acute pancreatitis.
You'll also see more evidence that caffeine is a protector which means that those who are concerned about drinking coffe or tea and having the caffeine cause problems will find that research does in fact suggest that tea and coffee should be beneficial, not an enemy. Read my earlier post Coffee and Pancreatitis.
But here, you can read this new pancreatitis research article from The Scientist and learn for yourself.
Whenever I find juicy tidbits such as this article I'll pass them along to you my readers cuz I appreciate your position, pain and trust.
Have a great pancreas pain free day!
Awesome blog, thank you for this link. I have somewhat strange form of pancreatitis as I only found out I have it after a serious weekend binge and ultrasound done on a routine basis right after it not expecting anything unusual, but the doctor found pancreatitis to my surprise. The strange thing is that I've never had acute form and never really had any symptoms other than mild abdominal pain, which I thought was just mild gastritis.
ReplyDeleteThat was a few months ago, I decided to stop alcohol for some time and last weekend drank some beers and this week I've been feeling kinda bad, thus I decided to research this problem some more.
The thing is, that study suggests that long chain fatty acids (namely fish oil and olive oil) in blood serum and on deposits around the pancreas itself + alcohol create fatty acid ethyl esters, which are extremely toxic to pancreas, according to the study.
I just found that out and I'm in shock, because I've been popping fish oil for years like candy, around 6-7 a day and also drinking 2 tablespoons of olive oil after workouts. No wonder I'm having these unpleasant flareups.
This week's flareup was also most likely related to fish oil, as I've been reading everywhere that it actually good for you and taking up to 10 a day, when in fact it's the exact thing that probably seriously negatively contributed to the whole thing.
Right now I'm planning to stop drinking completely for a few months again and no more fish oil and olive oil. Let the pancreas heal and then test the waters.
I suppose to those who still choose to drink, make sure you minimize intake of long chain fatty acids, this is absolutely critical (and choose redbull-vodka as opposed to beer, since caffeine has protective effects). But obviously, the best advice is to stop drinking, pancreatic problems also probably depend on other factors as well.
For me, I enjoy the nightlife and when out at a club everyone drinks. It's extremely hard to be the only one not drinking, I haven't been going out for sometime due to this, it's kinda ruining my social life. I hope that if I remove fish oil and olive oil from my diet, maybe I'll be able to resume partying on the weekends, but I guess time will show. I'm gonna test the waters slowly and see how it goes.
I wish luck to everyone, this is a really shitty disease, wouldn't wish it to the worst enemy.
I totally agree with you on one point, if you have pancreatitis "the best advice is to stop drinking." I am glad you like this blog and I hope you find healing but I was leery about releasing the link to the article simply because I figured people who drink and don't wish to quit would try to use the info to "game" the system.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the fish oil unless someone is fairly well healed up just a serving of oily fish such as salmon or sardines may cause problems. It is good oil - healthy oil but it is oil, which is fat and fat is the enemy and so 6 -7 fish oil pills (usually 1000mgs each) is WAY to much oil for a sick pancreas and to add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, hell that would kill me! Or at least make me so sick I'd wish I was dead. So what have we learned again?
Fat and alcohol are big time enemies. Thanks for pointing that out :-)
The only way to keep pancreatitis symptoms from reappearing is to STOP Drinking I have chronic pancreatitis and once you get it you are crazy for even think about drinking,this disease can kill you and will mess your life up even if it dosent kill you,every 3 months I have to have a ercp to replace stents in my bile ducts and my pancrease and will probably die from this disease it is very serious and nothing to play around with you need to do a lot more research and take it much more seriously it can lead to pancreatic cancer.
ReplyDeleteVery true Joseph, very true. People with pancreatitis need to quit drinking alcohol.
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