Skip to content
Winnowleaf home

Condition

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, the organ that makes digestive enzymes and insulin; in acute cases, those enzymes switch on inside the gland and digest it. The evidence is strongest for pancreatic enzymes and vitamin D, which address poor digestion and low fat-soluble vitamins, while secretin testing assessed pancreatic function with roughly 79 to 92 percent accuracy. Curcumin raised antioxidant enzymes in only 20 people, so that finding is early.

Sources: PMID 22194487; PMID 24222963

Supplements studied
1
Medicines and peptides
2
Graded outcomes
5
Trials
1
People studied
20

Evidence by supplement

  • Strong
  • Moderate
  • Limited
  • Very limited

1 supplement

Curcumin: outcomes studied for Pancreatitis
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile

Moderate Increase

Improves (the measure goes up)Moderate effect20 people
Oxidative Stress BiomarkersImproves (the measure goes down)6 studies20 people
Pancreatitis Symptoms

No effect

1 study20 people

Studies that measured pancreatitis symptoms

Prescription medicines and peptides studied, for context

These are not supplements. Most need a prescription, and some are research compounds with no approved use. They are listed so the supplement evidence above can be read against them.

2 medicines and peptides

Secretin (ChiRhoStim)

  • Pancreatic Function Assessment: improves
  • Early Pancreatitis Detection: improves
  • MRCP Enhancement: improves
Secretin (ChiRhoStim): outcomes studied for Pancreatitis
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Pancreatic Function Assessment

Endoscopic secretin test: peak bicarbonate <80 mEq/L indicates exocrine insufficiency. Normal response: mean peak 100 mEq/L. 79-92% diagnostic accuracy.

Improves (the measure goes up)Large effect14 studies
Early Pancreatitis Detection

S-MRCP detects early-stage reversible chronic pancreatitis. Signal intensity ratio <1.7 has 92% sensitivity, 75% specificity for early disease. Identifies subtle ductal abnormalities.

Improves (the measure goes up)Large effect14 studies
MRCP Enhancement

Secretin-enhanced MRCP increases chronic pancreatitis detection sensitivity from 77% to 89%. Improves ductal visualization 4-fold. NPV increases from 84% to 98%.

Improves (the measure goes up)Large effect12 studies

Sincalide (Kinevac)

  • Pancreatic Enzyme Secretion: improves
Sincalide (Kinevac): outcomes studied for Pancreatitis
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Pancreatic Enzyme Secretion

Combined with secretin for pancreatic function testing. Stimulates enzyme (lipase, amylase) secretion into duodenum. Used for duodenal aspirate analysis in chronic pancreatitis evaluation.

Improves (the measure goes up)Large effect5 studies

Key findings

  • Anti-Oxidant Enzyme ProfileCurcuminImproves (the measure goes up)

The Pancreatitis Recovery & Chronic Management Support protocol

2 primary supplements · 7 supporting supplements

  • Pancreatic EnzymesPrescription PERT: 40,000–50,000 lipase units with meals, 20,000–25,000 with snacks
  • Vitamin D2,000–4,000 IU daily (often higher doses needed; monitor levels)

See the full protocol

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for Pancreatitis. If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.

Fullscript collectionGut and digestion: evidence-graded picksOpen on Fullscript

We earn from purchases made in our Fullscript store, and links to Fullscript, iHerb or Thorne carry our referral, so we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Grades come from the research and never change based on what we earn. Full disclosure

Studies cited

26 studies from PubMed

  1. Defining Biliary Hyperkinesia and the Role of CholecystectomyDig Dis Sci, 2023 · PMID 37366537
  2. Sincalide: A Review of Clinical Utility, Proper Infusion Methodology, and Alternative Cholecystogogues.Journal of nuclear medicine technology, 2019 · PMID 31019045
  3. The clinical value of secretin-enhanced MRCP in the functional and morphological assessment of pancreatic diseasesAbdom Radiol, 2018 · PMID 29206061
  4. Secretin-enhanced MR Imaging of the PancreasMagn Reson Imaging Clin N Am, 2016 · PMID 26989929
  5. The Value of Secretin-Enhanced MRCP in Patients With Recurrent Acute PancreatitisAm J Roentgenol, 2016 · PMID 27824485
  6. Diagnostic Performance of Contrast-Enhanced MRI With Secretin-Stimulated MRCP for Non-Calcific Chronic Pancreatitis: A Comparison With HistopathologyAJR Am J Roentgenol, 2015 · PMID 26372506
  7. Quantification of pancreatic exocrine function of chronic pancreatitis with secretin-enhanced MRCPWorld J Gastroenterol, 2013 · PMID 24222963
  8. Optimum utilization of cholecystokinin cholescintigraphy (CCK-HIDA) in clinical practice: an evidence based reviewJ Gastrointest Surg, 2012 · PMID 22655428
  9. Secretin-enhanced MRCP: review of technique and application with proposal for quantification of exocrine functionAbdom Imaging, 2012 · PMID 22194487
  10. Gateways to clinical trials.Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology, 2009 · PMID 19907722
  11. Diagnostic yield of ERCP and secretin-enhanced MRCP and EUS in patients with acute recurrent pancreatitis of unknown aetiologyGastrointest Endosc, 2009 · PMID 19278909
  12. Diagnosis of early-stage chronic pancreatitis by secretin-enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatographyPancreas, 2007 · PMID 17238039
  13. Secretin is an ineffective treatment for pervasive developmental disabilities: a review of 15 double-blind randomized controlled trials.Research in developmental disabilities, 2005 · PMID 15590241
  14. Secretin as a treatment for autism: a review of the evidence.Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2004 · PMID 15628608
  15. Rapid endoscopic secretin stimulation test and discrimination of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer from disease controlsPancreas, 2004 · PMID 15017660
  16. Systematic review and meta-analysis: does gall-bladder ejection fraction on cholecystokinin cholescintigraphy predict outcome after cholecystectomy in suspected functional biliary pain?Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2003 · PMID 12869076
  17. Kinevac (sincalide for injection)/Squibb DiagnosticsRadiology, 1991 · PMID 1932168
  18. [Clinical use of secretin (literature review and personal data)].Terapevticheskii arkhiv, 1972 · PMID 4573054
  19. A randomized double-blind controlled trial comparing extra virgin coconut oil with mineral oil as a moisturizer for mild to moderate xerosisDermatitis · PMID 15724344
  20. Efficacy of antioxidant intervention and exercise intervention for lipid peroxidation in dialysis patients: a meta-analysis.Front Med · PMID 40166056
  21. Six-month randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, pilot clinical trial of curcumin in patients with Alzheimer diseaseJ Clin Psychopharmacol · PMID 18204357
  22. Improvement in oxidative stress and antioxidant parameters in beta-thalassemia/Hb E patients treated with curcuminoidsClin Biochem · PMID 19900435
  23. Curcumin protects DNA damage in a chronically arsenic-exposed population of West BengalHum Exp Toxicol · PMID 20056736
  24. A pilot study of the antioxidant effect of curcumin in tropical pancreatitisIndian J Med Res · PMID 16394323
  25. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcuminoid-piperine combination in subjects with metabolic syndrome: A randomized controlled trial and an updated meta-analysisClin Nutr · PMID 25618800
  26. The effects of curcumin-containing supplements on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Phytother Res · PMID 30402990