Fat-soluble vitamin deficiency is common in children with chronic pancreatitis undergoing total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation

The prevalence of fat-soluble vitamin (FSV) deficiency in children undergoing total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) for chronic pancreatitis (CP) is unknown. We quantified FSV deficiency in 100 children (age-18) undergoing TPIAT. FSV levels (vitamins A, E, D) and clinical history were abstracted from medical records. Vitamin A was low in 4% before and 7% at 1 year after TPIAT, Vitamin E in 17% and 18%, and Vitamin D in 22% and 24%, respectively, regardless of pancreatic enzyme or vitamin supplement dosing. Longer duration of CP was associated with pre-TPIAT Vitamin D insufficiency (P0.0002). This remained significant in a multivariate regression model (adjusted P0.01). On multivariate analysis, there were no significant predictors of low FSV levels post-TPIAT. FSV deficiencies are common among children undergoing TPIAT and patients who have had longer disease duration may be at increased risk.