What are digestive enzymes?

The body uses various digestive enzymes to break down and process food. Many people may be deficient in particular enzymes, and may benefit from supplementation.

The body uses numerous enzymes to catalyze digestion. This begins with saliva, which contains an enzyme called amylase. The stomach then secretes pepsinogen to help break apart proteins. Once food reaches the small intestine, it is bombarded with lipase, amylase, trypsin, chymotrypsin and carboxypeptidases from the pancreas. Hydrolases from the small intestine help to break complex carbohydrates into simple sugars.

These enzymes are essential for proper digestion, but many people are deficient. For example, people with lactose intolerance do not have adequate levels of lactase, the enzyme needed to digest lactose. Deficiencies in digestive enzymes result in abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, and gas formation.

Supplementation with a digestive enzyme preparation may help to alleviate some symptoms of deficiency, and may help the body to obtain better nourishment from food.