Health Benefits of Digestive Enzymes

6 6 minutes read

Digestive enzymes are proteins that play a role in the digestion of food. It contains digestive enzymes that are naturally found in the body, with prescription and over-the-counter digestive enzymes and are used as dietary supplements. Those who advocate the health benefits of digestive enzymes, which can be sold without a prescription, think that it is good for some diseases. These diseases are:

Celiac disease
Crohn’s disease
Painful burning sensation in the chest
Indigestion
Irritable bowel syndrome
Ulcerative colitis

Digestive enzymes, mostly secreted by the pancreas, help the body break down fats, proteins and carbohydrates. When the normal functioning of the pancreas is impaired and causes insufficient enzyme production, the body may not be able to properly break down the food taken and absorb its nutrients. Digestive enzyme supplements protect against this malabsorption that slows digestion and causes uncomfortable symptoms such as bloating, abdominal cramps and diarrhea.

For example, doctors often prescribe Rx digestive enzymes to people with pancreatic insufficiency from conditions such as pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and cystic fibrosis. More commonly, people who lack the enzyme lactase, which helps digest lactose, the sugar in dairy products, often take OTC lactase supplements to prevent indigestion while eating dairy products. Similarly, those lacking the enzyme to digest sugars in beans can take an alpha-galactosidase supplement such as Beano or Bean Relief.

The digestive enzymes in supplements come from a variety of sources, including animal pancreases (pigs, cows or lambs) or plants. For example, bromelain is derived from yeast or mushrooms purified from pineapple, papaya papayas and lactase. Supplements also often contain a mixture of proteolytic enzymes such as bromelain and papain (needed to digest protein), lipase (needed to digest fat), and amylase (needed to digest carbohydrates).

Although digestive enzymes supplements are normally taken with meals for digestive purposes, they may have the potential to stimulate the immune system, manage arthritis, reduce inflammation, improve liver health, fight cancer, and more when taken on an empty stomach between meals. In fact, there is so much talk about the alleged benefits of digestive enzymes that the global market for these supplements is expected to reach $ 1.6 billion by 2025.

Health Benefits of Digestive Enzymes

While some studies appear to support some of the supposed benefits of digestive enzymes, as with many dietary supplements, there is not enough evidence to show clear health benefits. Most of the studies are small, poorly designed, with conflicting results, and as a result are far from convincing. Some key findings regarding the potential health benefits of supplements containing digestive enzymes include:

Restless Bowel Syndrome

According to a pilot study published in Frontline Gastroenterology in 2011, a digestive enzyme known as pancrelipase can alleviate some of the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). For the study, 69 patients with irritable bowel syndrome were given pancrelipase or placebo before consuming food and are known to trigger their symptoms. Study results show that those treated with pancrelipase experienced significantly greater improvement in symptoms such as cramping, bloating, and pain.

Another study involved involves a multi-component formulation called Biointol. This supplement contains digestive enzymes along with inositol and betaglucan. In this small study, 50 IBS patients took it as supplements and their symptoms were compared with 40 IBS patients without treatment. The results showed that the supplement reduced abdominal pain, bloating and bloating. Unfortunately, without a placebo control, there is no way to conclude that the supplement itself causes a reduction in symptoms.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Several preliminary studies suggest that bromelain can help manage colitis or intestinal inflammation. For example, a 2010 study found that bromelain helps reduce colon inflammation in mice with colitis. Digestive enzymes can also be helpful for people with IBS who experience IBS symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain despite having little or no active inflammation. This new disease is called IBD-IBS syndrome. A study published in 2017 included patients receiving the anti-inflammatory drug mesalamine, a standard treatment for IBD, as well as Biointol, the same multi-component formulation mentioned above, or mesalamine alone. Those taking both mesalamine and Biointol reported a reduction in abdominal pain and reduction in bloating after four weeks, while those who took only mesalamine reported only a slight reduction in evacuation urgency. Again, without a placebo control, there is no way to conclude that the supplement itself caused a reduction in symptoms.

Cancer

It has been reported that digestive enzymes are beneficial for people receiving cancer treatment, for example, as they affect the disease process itself by reducing complications of treatment. However, according to a 2014 article in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, these studies were either not analyzed statistically or showed no significant or consistent improvement with OTC enzymes. For example, a retrospective study reported that complementary therapy with OTC enzymes improved quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer by reducing the signs and symptoms of the disease and reducing adverse reactions associated with adjuvant therapies. However, a randomized controlled treatment trial with proteolytic enzymes showed no reduction in the acute toxic effects of adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy and did not improve tolerance to treatment.

According to a report from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, laboratory studies have reported that proteolytic enzymes can affect the growth of cancer cells, and while adjuvant therapy with proteolytic enzymes benefits patients with cancer, recent research does not support such claims.

Muscle Pain

The evidence for the effectiveness of OTC enzymes in improving muscle soreness is mixed, and many studies are small and dated. In a 2004 study involving 20 men, protease supplements facilitated muscle recovery and reduced perceived increases in pain after intense exercise. In another study from 1965, they reduced pain and swelling associated with injuries and accelerated the healing process. However, a double-blind, randomized controlled trial from 2002 of 39 people found no difference between bromelain, Ibuprofen, or placebo in the treatment of post-exercise muscle pain. Double-blind study published in 1975, among 50 people with soft tissue (muscle, tendon or ligament) ankle injuries, there was no significant difference in swelling, bruising and function in the group given proteolytic enzymes. More recently, a study involving 20 men from 2016 found that taking DigeZyme, a branded enzyme blend compared to a placebo, significantly reduced pain and sensitivity after a treadmill running test.

Autism

While there is growing evidence for the gut-brain link associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), research on the benefits of digestive enzymes on children with ASD is mixed. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in 2015, children who received digestive enzyme therapy for three months showed significant improvement in emotional response, overall behavior compared to children in the control group, and gastrointestinal symptoms (stool quality, abdominal pain, vomiting, and food variety).

Conversely, in a more rigorous randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study published in 2010, researchers reported no statistically significant clinical improvement in any parameter other than the food variety score (selective eating is common with ASD). It is the outcome measure showing a statistically significant improvement in proteolytic enzyme therapy compared to placebo. More research is definitely needed. Still, despite the opposite consequences, some researchers believe that their use in children with ASD should be encouraged, as digestive enzymes are cheap, readily available, and have an excellent safety profile. A doctor should be consulted before giving it to a child.

Possible Side Effects of Digestive Enzymes

Unless digestive enzymes are taken in very high doses, the risks of most enzyme supplements are very small. Digestive enzymes can trigger a number of side effects such as stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Additionally, some people may experience allergic reactions to digestive enzymes. Bromelain, the enzyme from pineapple, may have anti-platelet activity. If he is taking blood thinners or has anti-platelet activity, it may increase the risk of bleeding. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised to consult their doctor before taking these products.

Dosage and Preparation

There is no standard dosage for digestive enzymes. Studies often use preparations containing mixtures of various enzymes, and effective dosages vary widely. If digestive enzymes are to be taken, a short trial period of two or three weeks should be considered. If it is useful, it should be continued, if not, its use should be discontinued. What to look for

Digestive enzymes are widely available online and in many natural food stores, pharmacies, and department stores specializing in dietary supplements. A ConsumerLab review found that some enzyme products do not contain all of the enzyme activity expected from labels, and some are not clearly labeled enough to let them know their activity. What’s more, the products vary considerably in the enzyme activity they offer. Those who decide to try digestive enzymes are advised to buy from a brand from a reputable manufacturer that has been tested and approved by a well-known certification body such as US Pharmacopeia (USP), NSF International or ConsumerLab. This can help ensure the highest possible quality and safety.

It is important to note that self-treating a chronic condition with digestive enzymes and avoiding or delaying standard care can have serious consequences. Those considering using digestive enzymes are recommended to consult a doctor first.