Potential Health Benefits of Digestive EnzymesDoctors may prescribe digestive enzymes for those with pancreatic conditions. Over-the-counter digestive enzymes can help some people digest dairy and other foods. Some products claim to offer other health benefits, such as symptom relief for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but the supporting research is limited. Here is what the research says about the possible benefits of digestive enzymes.
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May Help You Digest Dairy
If you’re lactose intolerant, your body may not make enough of the enzyme lactase, which you need to break down the lactose in milk products, says Kim Kulp, RD, the owner of Gut Health Connection, a private nutrition and lifestyle coaching practice in the San Francisco Bay Area.
For clients who are lactose-intolerant, Kulp and the American Gastroenterological Association both recommend taking a lactase enzyme supplement (one common brand is Lactaid) just before consuming dairy-containing foods.
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May Help Improve Some IBS SymptomsIf you have IBS, there may be value in using digestive enzyme supplements to reduce symptoms, says Taliaferro. These are available OTC and by prescription. “The best thing people can do is stick to enzymes that target their particular carbohydrate intolerances,” she says.
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For example, if you get gassy and bloated after eating beans, dietary supplements such as Beano, available OTC, help supply your body with the enzyme alpha-galactosidase to break down a type of non-absorbable fiber in these foods, she says.
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The enzyme supplement Fructaid helps the body digest fructose, whereas enzyme blends like Fodzyme or Fodmate are OTC supplements that target multiple carbohydrate intolerances (called FODMAPs) that affect people with IBS. “These are the ones that will be typically most effective for IBS, as they have the most data behind them and are most likely to help with symptoms,” she says.
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May Reduce Inflammation Related to UCOne purported benefit of the OTC digestive enzyme bromelain is reducing intestinal inflammation associated with digestive diseases like ulcerative colitis (UC), a type of inflammatory bowel disease. Research suggests that supplementing with bromelain may benefit people who have IBD by promoting digestive function and reducing inflammation.
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But a huge limitation to this body of research is that there is a lack of human testing, and research involving humans is small.
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“Some studies look promising, but there is still a lot of opportunity to understand how they work and their risks,” says Taliaferro.
May Help Reduce Musculoskeletal PainProteolytic enzymes break down proteins. OTC supplements often include a combination of pancreatin, papain, bromelain, trypsin, and chymotrypsin. Although most benefits are unsubstantiated, there is some evidence that these may help reduce inflammation to help reduce pain in moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis.
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Other preliminary research suggests there may be a benefit for the OTC enzyme serrapeptase for reducing inflammation and swelling in minor injuries like ankle sprains.
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“Although the evidence is promising, existing studies have been small and short-term, so more studies are needed,” says Taliaferro.
Can Replace Missing EnzymesExocrine pancreatic insufficiency occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough digestive enzymes to break down foods and absorb nutrients. Causes include chronic pancreatitis, celiac disease, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis, and after surgery on the digestive tract.
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Currently, the only FDA-regulated treatment is pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), a prescription medication that includes the enzymes lipase, protease, and amylase.
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