Cystic Fibrosis and the Digestive System, Cystic Fibrosis and the Digestive System – Health …
Cystic Fibrosis and the Digestive System, Cystic Fibrosis and the Digestive System, In the digestive system, CF mainly affects the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ that puts out (secretes) certain substances. They help with digestion and control the body’s blood sugar levels. The abnormality in CFTR makes the pancreas secretions become thick. The thickened secretions can block the ducts in the pancreas.
In the digestive system, CF mainly affects the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ that puts out (secretes) certain substances. They help with digestion and control the body’s blood sugar levels. The abnormality in CFTR makes the pancreas secretions become thick. The thickened secretions can block the ducts in the pancreas.
In digestion in people with CF, the small tubes that transport these enzymes out of the pancreas become blocked with mucus. The enzymes build up in the pancreas instead of reaching the digestive system (specifically, the lumen of the gut), causing the pancreas to become inflamed.
About 90 percent of people with CF have sticky mucus that blocks ducts in the pancreas and prevents enzymes from reaching the small intestine to digest food. Undigested food in the intestines can cause pain, cramping, gas and either loose, greasy, floating stools or constipation and blockages.
Mucus can also affect the digestive system, causing a deficit of enzymes released by the pancreas that aid in digestion . The result is reduced absorption of nutrients, greasy, bulky stools, intestinal blockage, as well as poor weight gain and growth in infants. People with CF are also at higher risk of diabetes because of their condition.
10/1/2014 · Cystic fibrosis can affect food digestion and nutrient absorption. The underlying mutation of the cystic fibrosis trans-membrane regulator gene depletes functional cystic fibrosis trans-membrane regulator on the surface of epithelial cells lining the digestive tract and associated organs, where Cl ? secretion and subsequently secretion of water and other ions are impaired.
3/4/2019 · This mucus can also block the tubes or ducts within the pancreas, an organ that is responsible for producing both digestive enzymes that aid in the digestion of food and insulin. Without enough digestive enzymes, CF patients may have difficulty breaking down food and absorbing it properly , especially fats and proteins.
