A 60-year-old woman with chronic pancreatitis is prescribed a medication to aid digestion of fats and proteins. Which medication would that be?

A 60-year-old woman with chronic pancreatitis is prescribed a medication to aid digestion of fats and proteins. Which medication would that be?

• A. Lipase
• B. Pancreatin
• C. Amylase
• D. Protease

Answer: (B)

When pancreatic function is reduced, replacing pancreatic enzymes helps you digest what you eat. Pancreatin is a pancreatic enzyme replacement that provides a mix of enzymes—lipase for fats, protease for proteins, and amylase for carbohydrates. For someone needing help with fats and proteins, pancreatin covers both, making it the best fit. The other options are single enzymes: lipase would aid fats only, protease would aid proteins only, and amylase would aid carbohydrates only.

When pancreatic function is reduced, replacing pancreatic enzymes helps you digest what you eat. Pancreatin is a pancreatic enzyme replacement that provides a mix of enzymes—lipase for fats, protease for proteins, and amylase for carbohydrates. For someone needing help with fats and proteins, pancreatin covers both, making it the best fit. The other options are single enzymes: lipase would aid fats only, protease would aid proteins only, and amylase would aid carbohydrates only.