What is "pancreatin"

pancreatin \pan"cre*a*tin\, n. [See pancreas.] (Physiol. Chem.) One of the digestive enzymes of the pancreatic juice.

Note: By some the term pancreatin is restricted to the amylolytic ferment of the pancreatic juice (amylase), by others it is applied to trypsin, and by still others to steapsin (the lipase of pancreatic juice).

2. A preparation of pancreatic juice, usually obtained from the ox or hog, containing the three main digestive enzymes trypsin, amylase, and lipase, and used in medicine as an aid to digestion.

n. A mixture of several digestive enzymes produced by the exocrine cells of the pancreas, composed of amylase, lipase and protease.

n. extract from the pancreas of animals that contains pancreatic enzymes; used to treat pancreatitis and other conditions involving insufficient pancreatic secretions

Pancreatin is a mixture of several digestive enzymes produced by the exocrine cells of the pancreas. It is composed of amylase, lipase and protease. This mixture is used to treat conditions in which pancreatic secretions are deficient, such as surgical pancreatectomy, pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis. It has been claimed to help with food allergies, celiac disease, autoimmune disease, cancer and weight loss. Pancreatin is sometimes called "pancreatic acid", although it is neither a single chemical substance nor an acid.

Pancreatin contains the pancreatic enzymes trypsin, amylase and lipase. A similar mixture of enzymes is sold as pancrelipase, which contains more active lipase enzyme than does pancreatin. The trypsin found in pancreatin works to hydrolyze proteins into oligopeptides; amylase hydrolyzes starches into oligosaccharides and the disaccharide maltose; and lipase hydrolyzes triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerols. Pancreatin is an effective enzyme supplement for replacing missing pancreatic enzymes, and aids in the digestion of foods in cases of pancreatic insufficiency.

Pancreatin reduces the absorption of iron from food in the duodenum during digestion

Some contact lens cleaning solutions contain porcine pancreatin extractives to assist in the intended protein-removal process.