Figure 10.

 Potential pathophysiological role of "compensated" pancreatic exocrine insufficiency for abdominal symptoms: in patients with mildly to moderately decreased exocrine function a distal shift of nutrient digestion and absorption may lead to impaired release of intestinal mediators. This, in turn may cause motility disturbances inducing abdominal symptoms and it may aggravate exocrine insufficiency. Accordingly, abdominal symptoms would not be a consequence of increased loss of nutrients but of a disturbance of the integrated regulation of gastrointestinal secretory and motor functions.