Heart Disease 8. The most common manifestation of cystic fibrosis is frequent respiratory infection. Management of this condition requires the help of a qualified doctor. 1 Children with cystic fibrosis lose a large amount of salt in their sweat and thus should be encouraged to salt their food liberally. Supplementation with pancreatic enzymes will often lead to improved digestion, especially of fats.
Current recommendations suggest supplementation with the pancreatic enzyme lipase at meals.
Amounts should not exceed 2,500 U per 2.2 pounds body weight at each meal, because larger amounts can damage the large intestine. The impaired digestion of fats in CF often leads to a deficiency of essential fatty acids. This deficiency may in turn lead to a lowered immune function , which makes these children more susceptible to respiratory infection. 9 EPA supplementation was particularly effective. In a double-blind trial, six weeks of supplementation with 2.7 grams per day of EPA led to reduction in sputum and improvement in lung function in children with chronic respiratory infection due to cystic fibrosis.