Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Digestive enzyme supplements provide the tools your body needs to properly break down all the nutrients in your food, which is essential for comfort. By working on complex sugars, proteins, and fats, they help reduce common issues like gas, bloating, and food intolerances. Take them with your meal to ensure they can work immediately on the food you eat.
Your body uses enzymes to break down the food you eat and release its nutrients. But lifestyle factors, diet, and illness can reduce enzyme production and lead to symptoms like:
If you struggle with these symptoms and have been diagnosed with low enzymes, supplementing with enzymes can help. Here’s what to expect when you take digestive enzymes—and how to avoid potential side effects for best results.
High-fiber foods like beans and cruciferous vegetables (think broccoli and cauliflower) can leave you feeling bloated, especially if you’re not used to eating them. Bloating
can also occur when partially digested food passes from your stomach to your intestines. Taking digestive enzymes may help ease bloating by breaking down food and helping your body process sugars and fibers.
Some research shows that digestive enzymes may reduce the inflammation, pain, and bloating associated with IBS and IBD.
Gas is a common cause of bloating that often results from intolerance to sugars in milk (lactose) or fruit (fructose). But beans, veggies, and grains can also be the culprits.
Discomfort from excess gas may make you want to avoid healthy plant foods, but you don’t have to. An enzyme called alpha-galactosidase—sold under the brand name Beano—may help reduce gas from eating plant-strong meals. If the fructose in fruit gives you a problem, the enzyme xylose isomerase could help.
When you don’t have enough enzymes to digest fat, it can lead to diarrhea and greasy or discolored stools. Supplementing with lipase, the enzyme that breaks down fat, may help with fat absorption and the uptake of fat-soluble nutrients—including antioxidant polyphenols and vitamins A, D, E, and K.
IBS may also cause diarrhea. Studies show that a supplement containing a combination of digestive enzymes may reduce the symptoms.
You should begin to feel better right away when you start taking enzymes. For maximum support, follow the supplement manufacturer’s timing and dosage instructions. Most brands advise supplementing a few minutes before the start of a meal or with your first bite of food.
If symptoms persist, talk with your healthcare provider. You may need a different amount or a different combination of digestive enzymes to see results.
You should only take a digestive enzyme supplement if your healthcare provider has confirmed or has good reason to suspect that low enzymes are causing your symptoms. Taking digestive enzymes when you don’t need them can cause bloating, gas, and diarrhea or worsen existing symptoms.
Some people may react to digestive enzyme supplements, which can cause itching, a rash, or trouble swallowing. Stop taking enzymes immediately and call your healthcare provider if you experience these symptoms.
Other side effects of digestive enzymes may include:
Some enzymes may reduce the effectiveness of certain diabetes medications or increase the risk of bleeding if you take blood thinners. Don’t supplement with digestive enzymes if you have stomach ulcers or gallbladder disease.
Your doctor can run tests to determine if enzymes are right for your digestive symptoms and recommend the best supplement for relief.
Digestive enzymes and probiotics work in different, yet complementary, ways to support digestion. Digestive enzymes are proteins that act as a catalyst to break down complex food components like fats, proteins, and carbohydrates directly, helping your body absorb nutrients immediately. Probiotics, on the other hand, are live microorganisms, or “good bacteria,” that help maintain a balanced and healthy environment in your gut over time, which can indirectly support digestion.
Some foods naturally contain digestive enzymes that may aid in breaking down nutrients. Examples include pineapple, which contains bromelain, and papaya, which contains papain; both are proteases that help break down protein. Other sources include avocados, which have lipase to break down fat, and raw honey, which contains amylase and protease. Eating a balanced diet rich in whole foods is the best way to support your natural digestive enzyme production.
When selecting a digestive enzyme supplement, you should primarily look for a formula that contains the specific enzymes addressing your main symptoms, such as lactase for dairy or alpha-galactosidase for gas from beans; for broad support, look for a blend that includes amylase (for carbohydrates), protease (for protein), and lipase (for fats).
Check the label to ensure the potency is listed using activity units (like DU, HUT, or LU) rather than just weight, as this measures the enzyme’s effectiveness. Finally, verify the source of the enzymes—plant-based, fungal, or animal—aligns with your dietary preferences, and choose a reputable brand free of unnecessary allergens or fillers.
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DISCLAIMER: These statements have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
