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Products classified as digestive enzymes help facilitate digestion, the absorption of nutrients, maintenance of proper pH in the gastrointestinal tract, and act as a barrier against invasion of pathological organisms. There are seven basic types of digestive enzymes. Also, there are various sub-classifications within some of these groups, and each type of enzyme has a specific activity and functions best within a specific pH range. The basic enzymes and their related functions are as follows: amylase digests starches, cellulase digests fibers, lactase digests dairy products, lipases digest fats, oils and triglycerides, maltase digests starch and grains, proteases digest proteins and sucrase digests sugars.
Some enzymes are extracted from animal sources such as the pancreas, liver and stomach of cattle or pigs. Examples of animal enzymes include oxbile, trypsin, chymotrypsin, rennin, pepsin, and pancreatin. Other digestive enzymes are derived from plants such as bromelain from pineapple and papain from papaya.
Hydrochloric acid, which is produced in the parietal glands in the lining of the stomach, is necessary for the digestion of proteins. Although hydrochloric acid is not an enzyme, it is required to convert pepsinogen to pepsin for the digestion of proteins. Betaine hydrochloride, which is a form of hydrochloric acid that is derived from beets, is a source of hydrochloric acid that is commonly referred to and utilized as a digestive enzyme product. For the purposes of this monograph, hydrochloric acid and its related products will be considered as digestive enzymes.
More recently, a large percentage of the digestive enzymes being used in commercial products are produced from fungi and bacteria using fermentation processes. In the dietary supplement industry, these products are called plant-based digestive enzymes to distinguish them from enzymes from animal sources. Actually, calling these products plant enzymes is incorrect because fungi and bacteria are not plants, but this terminology has been accepted and is being used. One of the claims for these plant-based digestive enzyme products is that they function at a pH range from 2 to 12, which means they are effective in the acidic environment of the stomach as well as the more alkaline environment of the small intestines.
Digestive enzymes work within a specific pH range. For example, agents such as betaine hydrochloride, bromelain and papain, which digest proteins, function primarily in the stomach where the environment needs to be fairly acidic. Pancreatic enzymes exert their digestive effects in the small intestines where the pH is more alkaline. Plant-based digestive enzyme products reportedly function over a wider pH range (pH 2 to 12), which enables them to function in both the stomach and the small intestine environment.
Impaired digestive function can produce many symptoms and is associated with a wide variety of clinical conditions such as gas, bloating, heartburn, indigestion, malabsorption disorders, malnutrition, dysbiosis, leaky gut, diarrhea, constipation, lactose intolerance, food allergies, celiac disease, etc. However, there is a disappointing lack of scientific studies regarding the use of digestive enzyme products in the treatment of health conditions. The use of digestive enzymes to treat symptoms and clinical conditions associated with digestive problems comes mostly from clinical observations, anecdotal comments, and manufacturer's product claims. Even though there is a lack of scientific research to verify the effectiveness of digestive enzymes, these products have become quite well accepted and are commonly used. |
