Vitamin status in patients with acute pancreatitis.

The serum levels of 6 vitamins were prospectively evaluated in 20 patients with acute biliary pancreatitis and in 20 patients with acute alcoholic pancreatitis. Twenty healthy subjects acted as controls. There were no statistically significant differences in the levels of vitamin B12 and D among the groups. Patients with alcoholic pancreatitis had significantly lower levels of vitamins A, E (p < 0.01) and C (p < 0.001) than those of the control group. Plasma levels of vitamin K were decreased or undetectable in 6 patients with biliary and 3 with alcoholic pancreatitis. The pathophysiological and clinical implications of this abnormal vitamin status in patients with acute pancreatitis are unknown. Nevertheless, multi-vitamin supplementation seems justified, especially in patients affected by alcoholic pancreatitis. Vitamin K should be administered in both types of pancreatitis when blood coagulation tests are disturbed.