The pancreas: all you need to know, from how it works to the best ways to keep it healthy
It’s not a large organ, but it’s a vital part of the human digestive system, producing insulin and other essential enzymes and hormones that help break down the food we eat
The pancreas, in the upper part of the abdomen, behind the stomach, is protected by the ribs to the rear. It isn’t a big organ – it’s around half the size of its owner’s hand – but it is a very important one.
“The most important digestive juices don’t come from the stomach, but from the pancreas. People can live without taking any medicine after having their stomach removed, but once the pancreas is gone, replacement enzymes must be given whenever someone eats anything,” says Dr Paul Ng, a Hong Kong-based specialist in gastroenterology and hepatology.
Ng explains that the pancreas is a factory that produces exocrine secretions, known as pancreatic juices, that are released into the gut.
They are mostly enzymes, and include amylase, which digests starch; protease (which digests protein); lipase (which digests fat); DNase (which breaks down DNA); RNase (which does the same for RNA); gelatinase (which breaks down gelatin); and elastase (which breaks down collagen).
The pancreas also performs an endocrine function, delivering important hormones into the bloodstream, including insulin, which lowers blood glucose, and glucagon, which raises it. Insulin forces excess sugar towards muscles and other cells to avoid the damage a sugar overload can cause. Glucagon, on the other hand, is produced when blood sugar is too low, and prompts the liver to release sugars.