Why could cystic fibrosis cause a person to be malnourished?

Pancreatic Effect: Cystic fibrosis can affect the function of your pancreas - this is an organ in the abdomen that is responsible for producing digestive enzymes. In turn without those enzymes digestion is impaired and CF patients may not absorb nutrients that well. CF patients are also at risk for low vitamin d, a and k levels due to fat malabsorption.

Pancreatic insuffic: The pancrease (pancrelipase) is the organ that (among other things) secretes enzymes that help the body absorb fat. In CF the pancrease (pancrelipase) can become clogged and fail to do this... So the patient needs to take enzymes orally. Additionally, when the lungs are injured enough, cfers will start having a lack of appetite as well, the cause of this is less clear.

CF Nutrition: The causes are multifactorial and include chronic lung infection, poor absorption through the gastrointestinal tract, and increased metabolic demand due to chronic illness. A person with CF should work very carefully with a nutritionist. Supplemental pancreatic enzymes are often needed.