Has anyone successfully taken OTC probiotics instead of Creon for EPI?

I haven’t personally seen many people fully replace Creon with OTC probiotics for true EPI. Creon works by replacing the digestive enzymes your pancreas isn’t producing, so it’s usually hard to substitute completely.

Thank you. But you said not many. For those who did get results, do you know what probiotics they used?

@creondave I used vital nutrients, there over the counter enzymes, sold on Amazon, my Dr told me about them, and they worked for me I have chronic pancreatitis.

Creon is made from porcine (pig) pancreas, which means the enzymes are very similar to the ones the human pancreas naturally produces. That’s why it works so well for EPI — it’s essentially replacing what your body is missing.

Products like Vital Digest use plant or microbial enzymes, which can help with general digestion, but they are not identical to human pancreatic enzymes and may not work as effectively for EPI.

So even though both contain enzymes, they are not the same in how closely they match natural pancreatic function.

EPI stands for Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency.

Probiotics and pancrelipase do very different jobs, so probiotics can’t replace what pancrelipase does.

Pancrelipase is a prescription enzyme replacement made specifically to do the work of the pancreatic enzymes your body can’t produce enough of (lipase, amylase, and protease). These enzymes are essential for breaking down fat, protein, and carbohydrates so you can absorb calories and nutrients. Without pancrelipase, people with pancreatic insufficiency often have weight loss, diarrhea, and malabsorption.

Probiotics, on the other hand, are beneficial bacteria that help support gut health. They may improve digestion or reduce symptoms like bloating in some people, but they do not break down food in place of pancreatic enzymes and cannot help with fat digestion.

So while probiotics can sometimes be helpful for general gut balance, they cannot replace pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. If pancreatic function is impaired, pancrelipase is the only therapy that restores digestion of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.

If the reason for the question is due to expense of Rx pancrealipase and looking for alternatives, Registered Dietitians recommend the OTC brands Vital Nutrients and Digest Gold s these two have the highest Lipase units- critical in digesting dietary fats. The key difference between the Rx and OTC pancrealipase brands I’d Rx has an enteric coating providing timed release to cover a 45 minute span after they activate in the intestine. Most OTC brands are not enteric coated and last only 15 minutes. More capsules may be necessary for meals over 15 minutes in length.

@mcharlesfrancis Thank you, I was wondering if you have successfully taken OTC probiotics instead of Creon for EPI? If so, what probiotics did you try?

@stageivsurvivor Great info, but am wondering if you have successfully taken OTC probiotics instead of Creon for EPI? If so, what probiotics did you try? Or perhaps you don't know anyone who tried to do this, or perhaps substitute anything for Creon that is readily available outside the Western world?

Vital

@creondave No, pancrealipase is what is needed for digesting carbohydrates, fats and protein. Each enzyme has a specific job and binds to respective receptors on the target molecules of the food you ingest. Probiotics is not a substitute for pancrealipase. Their roles are different.

When you are on antibiotic therapy, it is recommended to take a probiotic between courses of antibiotics so you Maurin a healthy balance of flora and the more pathogenic strains are kept under control. Using probiotic in place of pancrealipase when enzymes are necessary will led to fermentation of food, gas production, bloating and likely painful intestinal cramping from trapped gas. Because probiotics are not a replacement for pancrealipase, malabsorption results when the food is not digested to absorb nutrients and vitamins needed by the cells. As a result, weight loss and other issues manifest. Last thing you want when battling cancer is to become weak from not being able to absorb essential nutrients and vitamins.

I have some great doctors; we discuss these things regularly. However, I have a hard time typing in all the details and info; it would take a day or two, as the conversations have been ongoing for a long time. It is a really complex reason for asking this; moving forward, I will stick to my doctors, as I am not smart enough to articulate what is going on in a precise manner. Thanks again.