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Discover how RELiZORB supports your tube feeds #

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RELiZORB (immobilized lipase) cartridge

Importance of fat absorption

We all need dietary fat to function

Fat helps us absorb nutrients and certain fat-soluble vitamins, supports vital organs, and helps control cholesterol and blood pressure

Dr. Candi Jump, DO, MSED, CNSC

Dr. Candi Jump, DO, MSED, CNSC, explores fat malabsorption in the RELiZORB Spotlight Series

Hear from an expert on the signs, symptoms, and management of fat malabsorption and the benefits of improving fat absorption for your health.

General malabsorption vs fat malabsorption

Uncover the vital role of proper fat absorption, and learn about the signs and symptoms that can lead to a diagnosis of fat malabsorption

Fat malabsorption in short bowel syndrome (SBS)

Find out what happens to someone with SBS when fat isn’t absorbed properly and how to help reduce symptoms

Importance of enteral autonomy when managing SBS

Learn why it’s important to transition from parenteral nutrition to enteral nutrition—or tube feeding—especially in people with SBS

The importance of fats in proper nutrition and health

While fats are sometimes thought of as “bad,” they actually play an important role in proper nutrition and health. A balanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases and is beneficial for maintaining normal development and overall health. The inability to break down and digest fats is known as malabsorption.

Types of digestive enzymes and why they matter

There are 3 primary digestive enzymes that break down foods into nutrients for your body to use—protease breaks down protein, amylase breaks down carbohydrates, and lipase breaks down fats. A deficiency in lipase can lead to fat malabsorption, and your body may need to get lipase from another source.

Amylase

Pronounced “am-uh-lace” breaks down carbohydrates

Lipase

Pronounced “lie-pace” breaks down fats

Protease

Pronounced “pro-tee-ace” breaks down protein

Fat and nutrition pave the way toward growth and development 

Parents and caregivers want to see their children reach important milestones. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in food play a meaningful role in helping children reach growth and development goals and in preventing certain diseases.

Fat that isn’t absorbed properly can have an impact on your daily life

When dietary fat isn’t absorbed in the body, you can miss out on energy, nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. This can result in unpleasant or disruptive symptoms that can impact daily life.

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Fat malabsorption can result in:

  • Not getting enough calories
  • An inability to gain or maintain weight
  • Weight loss
  • Lower levels of some vitamins
  • Fatigue
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Fat malabsorption can look or feel like:

  • Stomach pain
  • Gas
  • Oily or foul-smelling stools
  • An unusually full feeling in your stomach
  • Feeling like you may throw up

Fat malabsorption is associated with many conditions

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Fat malabsorption is associated with many conditions

These conditions include:

  • Short bowel syndrome (SBS) In people with SBS, a portion of the digestive tract is removed due to injury or illness. This means not enough of the digestive tract remains to fully absorb fatty acids and other nutrients, leading to issues with certain bodily functions and unpleasant symptoms.
  • Cystic fibrosis (CF) In people with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) conditions like CF, the body does not produce enough digestive enzymes or produces digestive enzymes that do not work properly. This means fats cannot be properly broken down and absorbed. Children are most vulnerable to conditions that lead to fat malabsorption because they can result in growth and developmental issues in addition to poor quality of life.
  • Acute/chronic pancreatitis
  • Pancreatic and other gastrointestinal cancers
  • Trauma/critical care
  • Abdominal surgery
  • Inflammatory bowel disease

RELiZORB is designed for tube feeding

People who rely on tube feeding can experience digestive distress or formula intolerance as a result of fat malabsorption, which can cause stomach pain, bloating, gas, weight loss, fatigue, diarrhea, and excess fatty deposits in the stool.

RELiZORB connects directly to your feeding tube and helps break down fats to be more easily absorbed, which may help to reduce fat malabsorption symptoms.

RELiZORB connects into your tube-feeding setup

RELiZORB easily connects into your tube-feeding setup

RELiZORB is indicated for use in pediatric patients (ages 1 year and above) and adult patients to hydrolyze fats in enteral formula.

Warnings
  • RELiZORB is for use with enteral feeding only.
See more
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RELiZORB is indicated for use in pediatric patients (ages 1 year and above) and adult patients to hydrolyze fats in enteral formula.

Warnings
  • RELiZORB is for use with enteral feeding only.
  • RELiZORB should not be connected to any intravenous (IV) line, setup, or system.
  • Medications should not be administered through the RELiZORB cartridge. Do not add medications to the enteral formula or tubing before RELiZORB. The passage of medications through RELiZORB may adversely affect the medications or the ability of RELiZORB to hydrolyze fats.
  • Fibrosing Colonopathy - Fibrosing colonopathy is a rare, serious adverse reaction associated with high-dose use of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis. The underlying mechanism of fibrosing colonopathy remains unknown. Patients with fibrosing colonopathy should be closely monitored because some patients may be at risk of progressing to stricture formation. RELiZORB contains lipase enzyme that is not from a porcine source. The lipase is bound to the beads, and this lipase-bead complex (iLipase) is retained within the RELiZORB cartridge. Continue to follow your physician’s guidance and porcine pancreatic enzyme labeling regarding porcine pancreatic enzyme use when used in conjunction with RELiZORB.
Cautions and Precautions
  • Do not re-use RELiZORB. RELiZORB is a single-use product. Re-use may result in contamination of the product. If re-used, RELiZORB may not effectively hydrolyze fats.
  • Do not break, alter, or place excess pressure on any part of RELiZORB. Any compromise of the structural integrity of RELiZORB may lead to improper connection to enteral feeding supplies, enteral formula leakage or risk of contamination.
  • Do not use RELiZORB after the date marked on the pouch.
  • Do not use blenderized formulas with RELiZORB. A detailed listing of enteral formulas compatible with RELiZORB can be found at www.relizorb.com/compatibility.
  • RELiZORB is designed for use with enteral feeding pump systems with low flow/no flow alarms and enteral syringes for manual bolus by syringe (push or gravity). A detailed listing of formulas, pumps, and enteral feeding supplies compatible with RELiZORB can be found at www.relizorb.com/compatibility.
  • Do not use excessive force when using RELiZORB with enteral syringe push feeding methods.
  • Do not rush bolus feeds. Follow guidance from your healthcare professional on how long it should take you to complete your tube feeding.
  • Ensure all inlet and outlet connectors on RELiZORB and enteral feeding supplies are clean and dry prior to making connections.
  • In order to ensure product performance, store RELiZORB in its pouch either refrigerated or at room temperature (2°C to 27°C; 36°F to 80°F).
  • RELiZORB is indicated for use with enteral feeding only; patients should follow physician’s guidance for pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) use for meals and snacks. Patients and patient caregivers should follow physician’s guidance regarding the need for pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) during enteral feeding.

Review full product information for RELiZORB in the Instructions for Use.