If you take pancreatic enzymes, take them during meals or immediately thereafter.

People with chronic pancreatitis, or pancreas injury, or poor digestion often take lipase–an enzyme normally made in the pancreas–to digest fat properly.

But lipase is only well absorbed, according to new research, if it is taken with or right after a meal. The stomach’s low pH probably dissolves enzymes taken before a meal.

Gluten is poorly absorbed by celiac sprue patients—and like people with pancreatitis, they do not absorb fat well.