Digestive
difficulties are one of the most
commonly suffered health problems
today. It is thought that nearly 80
million Americans suffer from at
least one form of digestive
dysfunction on a weekly basis; 10
million of these people are
hospitalized each year, while
doctor visits attributed to digestive problems
occurs nearly 50 million times
each year. [1] All of these problems are thought to
cost nearly 107 billion dollars, in
both direct and indirect costs each
year! It is interesting to note that
two of the most popularly prescribed
pharmaceutical medications in
history are for treatment of
digestive problems. This simple fact
puts into perspective the widespread
nature of digestive problems. Perhaps the best way to address this
problem is the use of digestive
enzymes. Digestive enzymes,
simply put, provide the means for
the body to assimilate foods and to incorporate their
nutrients into the many different
bodily systems in
which they are required. When a
substance (such as food) needs to be
transformed into another form
(individual nutrients), digestive
enzymes are responsible for this
process.
Unfortunately, as
evidenced by the statistics above,
many people are unable to properly
digest their foods, leading to many
different categorical signs and symptoms
of problematic digestive processes.
The dietary supplementation with
digestive enzymes offers a simple and
effective way to increase the
efficiency of digestion in the body. Digestive enzymes, when added to the
diet, will increase the release of
the energy that is stored within the
foods eaten. Foods that are left
partially or improperly digested
lead to gastrointestinal health
problems both in the short and long
term.
Digestive
enzymes typically include the
following types:
-
Proteases:
digestion of proteins
-
Lipases:
digestion of fats
-
Amylases and Cellulases:
digestion of carbohydrates
This is a broad
grouping, as there may be up to
hundreds of different enzymes that
fit into each of the categories
listed above.
|
Digestive Enzymes Food Sources
|
Naturally occurring
food sources of proteases, amylases, and lipases are quite rare. In the
recent past, many of these
digestive enzymes were derived
from animal sources (pancreases of
livestock animals). However this
process has fallen out of favor and the majority of digestive
enzymes are now manufactured using
the fungus aspergillus. Scientists
have learned to alter the chemical
machinery of this plant to produce
the aforementioned digestive
enzymes needed to effectively
dismantle proteins, fats, and
carbohydrates. Aspergillus-derived
enzymes are 100% vegetarian and have
an extremely strong safety record;
these enzymes contain no trace of aspergillus either. [2]
Otherwise, there are
thousands of different types of
enzymes found in plants and animals. Fresh, uncooked foods (vegetables
and fruits) contain certain types
(mainly cellulase) of enzymes in
very small amounts. These enzymes
are contained in the cells of the
food and are released by chewing and
the natural digestive process taking
place within the body. While the
presence of such enzymes is
beneficial in these foods, their
amounts are typically too small and
therefore may have a negligible effect
on the digestive process. Proponents
of ‘raw food diets' may, however,
argue otherwise.
Digestive enzymes
are used to assist the normal
digestive process. More often than
not, people have lower amounts of
gastric acid than needed for proper
digestion. [3]
There are numerous indications for
digestive enzymes, all of which
center around improving the function
of human digestion. Common signs and symptoms
of improper digestion include
nausea, gas, bloating, and heartburn. However, it is important to note
that these may be symptoms of a more
serious underlying problem. Treatment of digestive difficulties
with enzymes should always accompany
a full work up of symptoms by a
medical practitioner.
Protease:
Specific for breaking
down proteins (most commonly from animal food
sources), there are numerous types
of protease. In fact, it is thought
that the body produces up to 3,000
different types of protease in the
digestive process. The body makes many different types of protease
enzymes in order for protein
digestion to occur along the entire
pH spectrum in the gastrointestinal
tract. Each one of these
proteases works at a very specific
pH range.
As the process of
digestion unfolds, dietary protein
(and for that matter, fats and
carbohydrates) is continually
digested at different pH levels;
this is part of the reason why the
body supplies so many different
types of enzymes, ensuring complete
and adequate digestion.
Supplementation with a broad range
of protease enzymes gives the body a
variety of enzymatic powers to react
against different dietary proteins.
For example, when we
speak of animal proteins, although
they are all considered ‘animal',
each one is very different in its
protein makeup and therefore
requires many different proteases to
break it down. The more proteases,
the broader the pH range, and the
longer it works in the digestive
tract.
Lipase:
Lipase enzymes specifically target
fats; typically accompanying
animal protein sources (highlighting
the consumer's quest for ‘leaner' cuts of beef,
etc.). Lipase assists the digestive
process by breaking apart fat
molecules into their respective
components - fatty acids and
glycerol. [4]
Lipase is found in a number of plant
sources, dairy products, and animal tissues. [5]
Similar to what was said about the
many different types of protein
necessitating a wide-ranging blend
of protease enzymes, the same is
true of those found in fat sources. A formula containing
multiple forms of lipase, instead of
only one, will allow the body to
digest more fat over a wider pH
range.
Amylase:
This enzyme targets carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates are primarily derived
from plant sources. Examples of this
include any vegetable source. Other
than these unprocessed foods, many
carbohydrates are available in a
processed from; like bread,
pasta, cookies, rice, cake, etc., are
all sources of carbohydrate. Similar
to the other main classes of
enzymes, many different forms of
amylase exist in order to breakdown
the various types of
cellular/carbohydrate sources. Amylase is secreted in large amounts
in the saliva; this combined with
mechanical breakdown (chewing) of
foods is what initiates the
digestive process. One can say
that digestion truly does begin in
the mouth. Amylase continues working throughout the
entire gastrointestinal tract.
|
Digestive Enzymes Dosages |
The dosages
regarding
digestive enzymes varies - different enzymes have
varying systems of measurement. These systems typically address the
enzymatic power of a particular
enzyme that is contained in a given formula.
Administration of
such enzymes should take place
roughly ten minutes into a meal;
this allows the body to get started
with its digestive process
(producing its own enzymes);
supplementation then bolsters the
body's natural process.
|
Digestive Enzymes
Deficiencies and Toxicities |
Digestive
Enzymes Deficiency
Deficiency of
digestive enzymes cannot be directly
tested for; a person's
symptoms will typically reveal an inefficient
digestive process. There is one type
of test that can indirectly measure
digestive capacity. This test
involves swallowing a small capsule
that measures the acidity level (pH)
in the stomach and intestines, then relays this information via radio
transmitter. Combined with this
information and specific clinical
symptoms, one may be diagnosed with
low levels of digestive capacity.
Digestive
Enzymes
Toxicity
Digestive enzymes
themselves have a very low
possibility of creating toxicity in
any form. Commonly, the only
problems encountered with
digestive enzymes are instances
in which too strong of an enzyme is taken; symptoms
usually involve
warmth and even a burning sensation in the
stomach. There is a small chance
that when taken together with
other pharmaceutical drugs, enzymes may
alter the way the drug affects the
body. Otherwise, digestive enzymes
are considered safe when taken as
directed.
|
Digestive Enzymes Products |
The following table lists various
products that contain a safe and
reliable source of Digestive Enzymes:
|
Manufacturer |
Ingredient |
Amount |
US RDA |
Learn More |
|
Natures Way |
Digestion Enzymes |
-- |
-- |
Click Here
 |
|
NSI |
Digestive Enzymes |
-- |
-- |
Click Here
 |
