Do digestive enzyme supplements really work? Experts say | Top Vip News

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When people eat foods you loveSometimes those treats do not correspond to them, which causes digestive discomfort that makes them look for a remedy.

Sometimes this is done in the form of digestive enzyme supplements, but whether people should take them and how well they work depends on how the products are obtained. your state of health and more.

Digestive enzymes found naturally in the body “break down our food so we can absorb the nutrients necessary for our bodily functions,” said Dr. Caroline Tuck, a dietician and senior lecturer in dietetics at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. . via email.

Digestive enzymes are produced in the pancreas, small intestine, and stomach, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The main enzymes produced by the pancreas are amylase, which breaks down complex carbohydrates; lipase, which digests fats; and proteases, which break down fats. The enzymes lactase and sucrase, produced in the small intestine, break down dairy sugar and sugar, respectively. Pepsin, produced in the stomach, is the main enzyme It intervenes in the digestion of proteins.

Most manufactured digestive enzymes, on the other hand, are derived from the pig pancreas, Dr. Deborah Cohen, an associate professor in the department of clinical and preventive nutrition sciences at Rutgers University in New Jersey, said by email.

But there are some plant-based alternatives, such as bromelain from pineapple or papain from papaya, and enzymes extracted from various microbes or yeasts, Cohen added.

Despite the body’s ability to produce digestive enzymes, research has shown that the market for these products is booming, estimated at almost $700 million in 2021 and is expected to reach $1.6 billion by 2031, said Dr. Akash Goel, assistant clinical professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City.

Here’s what you need to know to determine if these supplements are worth it.

A key difference between prescription and over-the-counter digestive enzymes is that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates the former as drugs, “so they undergo a rigorous approval process that includes extensive testing with data of safety and effectiveness,” Goel said by email.

This strict process ensures that products are pharmaceutical or prescriptive grade, Cohen said, and that the dosage of the active ingredient is therapeutic enough to treat the patient’s symptoms.

Studies have shown the effectiveness of prescribed pancreatic enzyme supplements, Goel said.

But over-the-counter supplements are regulated like foods, so “there’s a lot less standardization and quality control in terms of ingredients,” Goel said.

As a result, the source and dosage of an active ingredient, or whether the product actually contains the active ingredient in the first place, are at play, Cohen said. Supplements also tend to have less active ingredient than recipes.

“That’s the problem with supplements and digestive enzymes,” he added. “(Brands) can say whatever they want in TV ads, in magazine ads or (on social media)… and it’s perfectly legal. But whether it is true or not is a completely different story.”

Because supplements do not go through FDA approval, those that have been tested by a third party are safer bets, experts said. These could include the NSF – which says it has the only national standard that establishes requirements for ingredients in dietary and nutritional supplements: the US Pharmacopeia or ConsumerLab.com.

It also matters whether over-the-counter enzymes have what is called an enteric coating.

“The enteric coating protects the enzymes, which are proteins, from being digested by the acid contained and secreted by the stomach,” Cohen said, so “the enzyme can safely reach the small intestine, where it does its main job.” .

A couple of commonly used over-the-counter enzymes have long been known to work. These include Lactaid and Beano, used by people who are lactose intolerant or who have gas or bloating after eating legumes, respectively. “Beano contains alpha galactosidase, an enzyme that our body does not produce,” Tuck said.

Regardless of whether you’re taking a prescription or over-the-counter digestive enzyme, professional advice on timing and dosage is essential, Cohen said.

On its own, the body should produce sufficient levels of digestive enzymes for nutrient assimilation, Goel said. But when it doesn’t, due to deficiencies evidenced by a stool test performed by a doctor, the primary treatment is prescribed digestive enzymes.

“Prescription enzymes are primarily used by people diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency,” Cohen said. Cystic fibrosis It is a disease which damages the lungs, digestive tract and other organs, while exocrine pancreatic insufficiency It is a condition in which the small intestine cannot fully digest food due to problems with pancreatic enzymes.

Signs of digestive enzyme deficiencies include diarrhea, stomach pain, bloating, unexplained weight loss, and floating greasy, oily stools, experts said.

People with those diagnoses are really the only people with a clinical or legitimate need for digestive enzyme products, Cohen said, particularly prescription ones since, again, they are more likely to have the precise dosage needed.

“If there are no established medical problems or food intolerances, then digestive enzyme supplements are not required,” Tuck said.

Some healthy people take digestive enzyme supplements after a large meal, thinking they will have trouble digesting the food. But the body can digest a heavy meal just fine, Cohen said. The thing is, the content can slow down the process and cause bloating or gas, he added, so not overdoing it is a better option than taking a supplement.

If you take them anyway, he added, most of the danger lies in potentially wasting your money.

But if you consume them for digestive problems that you experience regularly, you should consult a gastroenterologist or your doctor, since you may be masking symptoms and delaying a diagnosis that needs supervised treatment, experts said.

If you have enzyme deficiencies, there’s nothing you can do to improve levels naturally, Cohen said. Consequently, the only options are to take prescription digestive enzymes or avoid foods that you cannot digest due to your deficiencies.

But if you are a healthy person, you can improve your overall digestive health, even by avoiding eating foods that are so taxing on your system.

“Something that we registered dietitian nutritionists hear a lot is ‘I have trouble digesting food’ or ‘I have slow digestion’ when what they really have is constipation,” Cohen said. “Digestive enzymes will not help with constipation.”

What can help is avoiding highly refined, processed foods and consuming a diet rich in whole, plant-based foods, with fish and lean meats in moderation, Goel said.

Goel also recommended meeting national exercise guidelines and the guidelines for fiber intake as well as getting regular restful sleep, being exposed to nature, and spending time with loved ones.

“Stress management through various practices that could include meditation, but also recreational activities that bring joy,” he added, “is key.”