Pancreas supplements — typically made from freeze-dried bovine or porcine pancreas — are marketed as natural enzyme boosters, digestive aids, and blood sugar regulators. Promoters claim they can support pancreatic health, improve insulin function, and even help manage conditions like diabetes or digestive enzyme insufficiency.
The pitch often blends two narratives: the “like supports like” philosophy (the idea that eating animal pancreas will strengthen your own) and the fact that pancreas tissue contains digestive enzymes and precursors. But there’s no credible human research showing that consuming freeze-dried pancreas in capsule form restores pancreatic function or regulates blood sugar. In fact, these products could pose risks, especially for individuals with metabolic disorders who replace proven treatments with unregulated supplements.
The American Diabetes Association states there is no evidence that glandular pancreas supplements improve insulin production or control blood glucose in people with diabetes.
In this article, we’ll explore where pancreas supplement claims come from, what’s really in them, what the science says, the potential dangers, and safer, evidence-based alternatives for digestive and metabolic health..
Where the Claims Come From
Pancreas supplements are promoted through a mix of traditional beliefs, nutrient-based marketing, and health claims that blur the line between dietary support and medical treatment.
→ The “Like Supports Like” Theory – This centuries-old idea suggests that consuming an animal’s pancreas will strengthen your own pancreatic function. While catchy in marketing copy, there’s no biological mechanism or clinical data to support it.
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine notes that many traditional remedies lack controlled evidence and should not replace proven medical care (Ernst, 2000).
→ Digestive Enzyme Marketing – Because the pancreas produces digestive enzymes, brands claim that eating glandular pancreas tissue will improve digestion and nutrient absorption. However, enzymes are proteins that are typically broken down during digestion, and no studies show that raw or freeze-dried pancreas capsules deliver active enzymes to the intestines in meaningful amounts.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology explains that supplemental enzymes must be specially formulated (as in prescription pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy) to survive stomach acid and be clinically effective (Domínguez-Muñoz, 2011).
→ Blood Sugar Control Claims – Some companies imply that pancreas supplements can support insulin production or regulate glucose, often citing the pancreas’ role in blood sugar regulation. In reality, no evidence shows that consuming pancreas tissue increases insulin secretion in humans.
The American Diabetes Association clearly states that glandular pancreas products do not treat or manage diabetes and should not replace prescribed therapies.
→ Nutrient Density Narrative – Pancreas tissue contains proteins, small amounts of vitamins, and trace minerals, but the amounts in capsule form are minimal and unstandardized. This makes it impossible to guarantee therapeutic levels or consistent dosing.
The Council for Responsible Nutrition emphasizes that without standardization and potency testing, nutrient claims on supplements cannot be verified.
→ Influencer and Alternative Health Promotion – Many pancreas products are sold through alternative health channels and influencer networks that rely on testimonials instead of peer-reviewed research, creating the illusion of efficacy without real data.
A review in Nutrients warns that anecdotal promotion of supplements without clinical validation can mislead consumers and delay evidence-based treatment (Dwyer et al., 2018).
What’s Really in Pancreas Supplements
Despite bold claims, pancreas supplements are not the same as clinically tested pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) and often contain far less active material than implied.
→ Typical Composition – Most pancreas supplements are made from freeze-dried (desiccated) bovine or porcine pancreas tissue. This raw material may contain proteins, trace minerals, and inactive enzyme precursors, but there’s no guarantee of active, intact enzymes in the final product.
The Journal of Food Science and Technology notes that dehydration and storage can significantly reduce enzymatic activity, especially for temperature- and pH-sensitive proteins (Ratti, 2001).
→ Enzyme Stability Issues – Even if enzymes survive processing, they face degradation in the stomach’s acidic environment. Medical-grade enzyme therapy uses enteric-coated formulations to ensure enzymes reach the small intestine intact — something over-the-counter pancreas supplements generally lack.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology reports that non-coated enzyme preparations are often inactivated by gastric acid before they can provide digestive benefits (Domínguez-Muñoz, 2011).
→ Serving Size Reality – Most products recommend 2–6 capsules daily, equating to 1–3 grams of dried pancreas powder. This is far less than the enzymatic load in prescription PERT, which is standardized and often taken in much larger doses based on individual needs.
According to the U.S. FDA, approved pancreatic enzyme products are dosed in lipase units, not grams of tissue, to ensure clinical efficacy and safety.
→ Nutrient Content Is Not Standardized – While pancreas tissue contains protein and small amounts of vitamins, there’s no regulation requiring these supplements to verify nutrient levels. This makes label claims unreliable.
The Council for Responsible Nutrition emphasizes that unstandardized glandular products can vary widely in potency from batch to batch.
→ No Proven Insulin Effect – Pancreas supplements do not contain functional insulin, nor do they stimulate insulin production in humans. Any suggestion to the contrary is misleading and unsupported.
The American Diabetes Association confirms that insulin cannot be obtained or replaced by consuming pancreas tissue.
What the Science Says About Pancreas Supplements
Despite the confident marketing, there is no credible human clinical evidence that consuming pancreas supplements improves digestion, enzyme function, or blood sugar regulation.
→ No Randomized Controlled Trials – There are no published RCTs evaluating freeze-dried pancreas capsules for digestive health, nutrient absorption, or glycemic control in humans.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews emphasizes that clinical recommendations require controlled human studies, not extrapolation from nutrient composition (Higgins et al., 2019).
→ Enzyme Absorption Is Unlikely – Digestive enzymes are proteins that are typically broken down in the stomach and small intestine. Without protective coatings or pharmaceutical formulation, they are unlikely to survive digestion to provide clinical benefit.
A review in Current Drug Metabolism explains that orally administered proteins, including enzymes, are generally degraded before absorption unless specially protected (Mahato & Narang, 2011).
→ No Effect on Insulin Production – No studies show that consuming animal pancreas increases insulin secretion or lowers blood glucose in humans. The pancreas’ endocrine function cannot be “boosted” by eating glandular tissue.
The American Diabetes Association states that glandular supplements do not replace or stimulate insulin production and should not be used in place of medical treatments.
→ Animal Studies Are Not Translatable – While some animal studies investigate pancreatic extracts for enzyme activity or glycemic effects, they use isolated compounds or injection delivery — not oral glandular powder — and results cannot be assumed to apply to humans.
Translational research guidelines caution against extrapolating animal data to human supplementation without confirmatory trials (Hackam & Redelmeier, JAMA).
Potential Downsides & Red Flags
Pancreas supplements are often marketed as safe, natural health aids — but they carry real risks, particularly for people with digestive disorders, diabetes, or allergies.
→ False Sense of Security for Diabetes – The most dangerous risk is that individuals with diabetes or prediabetes may take pancreas supplements instead of following medically prescribed treatment plans, potentially leading to uncontrolled blood sugar and serious complications.
The American Diabetes Association warns that unproven supplements should never replace insulin therapy or other prescribed medications for blood glucose control.
→ Enzyme Allergies and Reactions – Pancreatic tissue contains proteins that can trigger allergic responses in some individuals. Medical-grade enzyme products list allergy warnings, but most over-the-counter glandular supplements do not.
The Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology documents cases of allergic reactions to porcine-derived pancreatic enzyme products (Levy et al., 1997).
→ Unverified Enzyme Potency – Unlike prescription pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), which is regulated for potency, over-the-counter pancreas supplements are not tested to confirm active enzyme content or digestive effectiveness.
The U.S. FDA requires PERT products to meet strict potency standards, but no such requirements apply to glandular supplements.
→ Contaminant Risk – The pancreas, like other organs, can contain residues of environmental toxins, pesticides, or heavy metals from the source animal. Without third-party testing, purity is uncertain.
A review in Food and Chemical Toxicology found that organ meats can concentrate environmental contaminants depending on animal diet and exposure (Zhang et al., 2014).
→ No Long-Term Safety Data – There are no studies on the long-term use of glandular pancreas supplements in humans, meaning risks could be underestimated — especially when taken daily for months or years.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition advises that supplements without long-term human safety data should be approached with caution (Dwyer et al., 2018).
Better Evidence-Based Alternatives
If your goal is better digestion, nutrient absorption, metabolic support, or overall wellness — there are clinically validated, transparent, and safe ways to achieve those results without unregulated glandular pancreas supplements.
→ Clinically Dosed Digestive Support – Instead of relying on unverified enzyme content from glandular powders, Swolverine’s Digestive Enzymes formula delivers standardized doses of amylase, protease, lipase, cellulase, and lactase to support nutrient breakdown and absorption. These enzymes are manufactured for stability and bioavailability, unlike those in raw tissue.
Controlled studies show that standardized digestive enzyme blends can improve nutrient absorption in those with deficiencies (Martinsen et al., Current Drug Metabolism).
→ Comprehensive Nutrient Support – Swolverine’s Multivitamin provides a complete profile of essential vitamins and minerals in bioavailable forms, ensuring you meet daily requirements without relying on inconsistent nutrient levels from animal organs.
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements emphasizes that supplementation should use well-characterized, standardized nutrient sources for predictable health outcomes.
→ Metabolic Energy & Cellular Function – Swolverine’s B-Complex delivers all eight essential B-vitamins, which are critical for carbohydrate metabolism and energy production. This offers a reliable way to support glucose metabolism without the risks of unproven pancreas extracts.
B-vitamins have been shown to support metabolic pathways essential for energy and overall cellular function (O’Leary & Samman, Nutrients).
→ Cardiovascular & Mitochondrial Health – Swolverine’s Krill Oil supplies bioavailable omega-3 fatty acids for anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular benefits, while CoQ10 supports mitochondrial energy production and antioxidant defense.
Omega-3s are associated with improved cardiometabolic health (Bernasconi et al., JACC), and CoQ10 has been linked to better exercise performance and oxidative stress reduction (Sander et al., BioFactors).
→ Evidence-Based Blood Sugar Support – Instead of unproven pancreas tissue, blood sugar regulation is best approached with diet, exercise, and clinically validated supplements (e.g., berberine, alpha-lipoic acid) used under professional guidance.
The Diabetes Care journal reports that certain plant-derived compounds, like berberine, have shown modest benefits for blood glucose control in clinical studies (Yin et al., 2008).
The Truth About Pancreas Supplements
Pancreas supplements may sound like a natural way to improve digestion, metabolism, and blood sugar control — but the science doesn’t back the hype.
→ No Proof of Pancreatic Support – There is no credible human research showing that consuming pancreas tissue restores pancreatic enzyme output, improves insulin production, or treats digestive issues. These claims are based on outdated “like supports like” theories and unverified nutrient charts.
The American Diabetes Association states that glandular pancreas products have no proven role in diabetes management or pancreatic health.
→ Not a Substitute for Medical Enzyme Therapy – People with conditions like pancreatic insufficiency require standardized pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), which is prescription-only and regulated for potency. Glandular supplements are not equivalent.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology confirms that effective enzyme therapy requires pharmaceutical-grade formulations that survive stomach acid (Domínguez-Muñoz, 2011).
→ Potential Risks, No Long-Term Safety Data – From allergic reactions to contaminant exposure, glandular pancreas supplements come with potential downsides — especially since their enzyme potency, nutrient content, and safety have not been studied long-term.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition warns against long-term use of supplements without human safety data (Dwyer et al., 2018).
→ Smarter, Science-Backed Choices Exist – For digestion, metabolism, and overall wellness, clinically validated supplements like Swolverine’s Digestive Enzymes, Multivitamin, B-Complex, Krill Oil, and CoQ10 offer reliable, proven support without the risks or pseudoscience.
At Swolverine, we focus on what’s proven — delivering transparent, clinically dosed, and effective formulas designed to help you perform at your peak without relying on outdated myths.
