Have you heard about phthalates? If you haven’t and you are one of the thousands of people with cystic fibrosis who take pancreatic enzymes, you probably will. If you have heard of phthalates, there’s a good chance you are wondering what they’re doing in your enzymes. You may even be wondering if it’s really such a good idea for you to keep putting something in your body that is potentially toxic. The short answer to this question is yes — do keep taking your enzymes unless your healthcare provider tells you to stop.
Still not convinced? Read on, and let me help you put your concerns in perspective.
What Exactly are Phthalates Anyway?
Phthalates are a group of chemicals that are added to plastic and vinyl products to help make them softer. You will also find them in household cleaners, solvents, cosmetics, varnish and many other things that you have in your cupboards at home. In some brands of pancreatic enzymes, phthalates are used in the coating of the little beads to help them wait until they get into the small intestine where they are needed before dissolving.
If Phthalates Are Everywhere, What’s the Problem?
Some studies have shown that children who are exposed to high levels of phthalates may experience developmental delays or reproductive problems. There is also concern that long-term exposure to some types of phthalates could cause cancer.
Maybe I Shouldn’t Take Enzymes. Better Safe than Sorry, Right?
Wrong. If you have pancreatic insufficiency, you need enzymes to help digest your food. Without them, you could experience some really nasty digestive symptoms, such as bloating, pain and frequent bulky stools. Even worse, your body would not be able to absorb nutrients from your food and you could become malnourished or even starve to death.
When people have a potentially life-threatening illness, such as cystic fibrosis, the rules about health choices change a bit. The key to making smart health decisions is considering benefit versus risk. One must weigh the potential benefits of choosing a particular option against the potential risks of not choosing it.
Consider chemotherapy, for example. Chemotherapy is a treatment option that people with cancer choose, because without it they would likely die. Chemotherapy agents are toxic chemicals that cause damage to the body. A healthy person would certainly avoid exposing themselves to these toxic chemicals, because they have no potential benefit to gain. For those with cancer, however, it’s quite a different story. Exposure to the toxin could save their lives and that is a great enough benefit to justify any potential damage that the treatment may cause. Likewise, a healthy person may choose to avoid exposing themselves to phthalates, but a person with cystic fibrosis would choose to accept the potential risk.
Do All Enzyme Replacements Contain Phthalates?
No. Several brands of pancreatic enzymes are on the market and each is formulated a little bit differently. The brands are not interchangeable, though. If you are thinking you may want to change to a different brand, be sure to talk about it with your healthcare provider.
The brands that contain phthalates are:
- Creon
- Pancrease
- Ultrase MT
- Pancrecarb
- Cotazym ECS
The brands that do not contain phthalates are:
- Pancrease MT
- Ultrase
- Cotazym
Source:
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “FAQs About Phthalates & Pancreatic Enzymes” 2008 September 14.
