Digestive Enzymes

The primary enzymes of concem in the nutritional and functional food arena have been the hydrolases, so named because they catalyzethe breakdown of the substrate by adding a water molecule. The main classes of hydrolytic enzymes are protease (act on proteins), amylase (act on carbohydrates), lipase (act on fats or lipids) and cellulase (plant cellulose). Enzymes are important substances found naturally in the body and in food. If someone does not produce enough enzymes to properly breakdown their food, they can experience symptoms such as gas, constipation, bloating and heartburn. Raw foods also provide enzymes that naturally break down food for proper absorption. Supplemental enzymes typically come from two sources, either extracted from the pancreas of animals or prepared from plant products. Enzymes can improve the digestion of food, reduce stress in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, help maintain normal pH levels and promote the growth of healthy intestinal flora. Many foods contain the enzymes necessary for their digestion.

Plant based enzymes are usually derived from the fungus Aspergillus oryzae. Several human studies suggest that these enzymes derived from this fungus may play a role in anti-inflammatory and fibrinolytic therapy, as well as providing digestive support. These enzymes may be, in some cases, more effective at digesting food than pancreatic based enzymes because their activity is not dependent on an optimal acid-alkaline environment.
Optimal pH is the range of acidity or alkalinity in which the digestive activity is the greatest. Plant-derived enzymes operate effectively at a very wide pH range, digesting actively in the (hopefully) acidic environment of the stomach and the alkaline environment of the small intestine.

Pancreatic enzymes improve digestion and assimilation of proteins and other nutrients as well as reduce circulating immune complexes that are formed from antigen and antibody reactions (i.e., allergies). They are more easily degraded than plant enzymes, and may be less effective for supporting digestive activity, since pancreatic enzymes are only effective in the slightly alkaline environment of the small intestine. Digestive enzymes are also found naturally in raw pineapple (bromelain) and green papaya (papain) as well as other foods, but these are weak compared to pancreatic or plant enzyme supplements.
Digestive enzyme supplementation is believed to be helpful for a large number of health conditions, including:

Pancreatic Insufficiency - Oral enzymes are standard medical treatment for conditions in which the pancreas is unable to meet the body's demands for enzyme production, such as cystic {ibrosis and malabsorption syndromes.
Food Allergies - By breaking down larger protein molecules into smaller, less allergenic molecules.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis) - Some studies have shown enzyme deficiencies in these conditions.
Circulation - Enzymes taken on an empty stomach decrease break down of immune complexes and improve circulation.

Digesti Plant based enzymes appear to not only improve break down of macronutrients but also improve hydrochloric acid production in those with low stomach acid.

Parasites - Enzymes appear to help fight off certain parasites by weakening their protective coats.

Pain/lnflammation - Some find help lrom using digestive or pancreatic enzymes or bromelain/curcumin as anti-inflammatory agents that reduce swelling and help clear away debris from the injured area, such as after a sports injury or surgery.

Respiratory - Studies in Europe have shown that pancreatic enzymes speed recovery from bronchitis.

Pancreatic Cancer - Dr. Gonzales, MD pioneered working with cancer patients with pancreatic enzymes. He reviewed and published the follow-up results of 11 patients who followed his treatment regime. They lived on average three times longer than expected. Gonzales said all the patients were in an advanced stage of the illness, and their conditions were inoperable.  

Acne Rosacea - Digestive insufficiency is common in rosacea and enzyme supplementation may improve this skin condition.
Other Cancers - By supporting digestion, enzymes may increase the life expectancy in those suffering from many types of cancer.

For example, 166 subjects with multiple myeloma who took pancreatic enzyme tablets for the first year and then 1 tablet for the second year of the study experienced an extended lifespan from 47 months to 83 months over those who did not use the enzymes. 

A large study of patients with colorectal cancer who had previously undergone traditional therapies found that the addition of oral enzyme therapy (Wobe Mugos) improved their quality of life by reducing signs and symptoms of disease as well as reducing the adverse reactions to chemother.

Enzyme Potency

Enzyme potency is best defined in terms of activity, not weight. Weight measurements can be misleading as there is no direct relationship between weight and activity. Low potency enzymes may weigh as much as high potency ones, and filler may add to the weight (but, not the activity) of an enzyme supplement.Enzyme supplements come labeled with various units of measurement used to detect enzyme activity.
For each specific enzyme assay, the test to determine the activity of the erzyme must be performed under a specific substrate, pH and temperature. This makes it difficult to compare products with different assays.

Two independent scientific organizations have attempted to standardize ingredients used in foods and dietary supplements. The Committee on Food Chemicals Codex (FCC), a division of the US Institute of Medicine, publishes the Food Chemicals Codex.This reference manuai includes monographs and testing methods for a range of food chemicals, including many enzymes. FCC focuses on food grade ingredients, and its assays are more generally used for microbial and plant-based enzymes. The US Pharmacopeia (USP) also publishes standard assays for many pharmaceutical and nutraceutical ingredients. USP's testing is generally directed more toward pharmaceutical use enzymes and its methodology is more often employed for assaying animal-derived erzymes.

The following is a list of some of the enzyme units or assays used to detect enzyme activity: 

ALU - measures activity of acid lactase units (enzyme that breaks down milk sugar).

HUT - Measures the activity of protease enzymes (protein digesting enzymes) based on hemoglobin units on tyrosine basis

FCCLU - Measures the activity of lipase units (fat digesting enzymes).

FCCPU - Measures plant proteolytic activity (plant enzymes that break down protein).
r DU - Measures activity of amylase in dextrinizing units (carbohydrate digesting enzymes).

GDU - Measures the proteolytic activity of bromelain (enzyme that breaks down protein).

The US Pharmacopeia (USP) will appear as the number of times an enzyme is stronger than the standard. For example,"4Xpancreatin" is four times stronger than the USP standard. Each "X" contains 25 USP units of amylase, 2 USP units of lipase, and 25 USP units of protease (or proteolyic enzymes).
In theory, too much enzyame activity could be irritating as the enzymes travel through the digestive system. Fortunately, that does not usually happen with supplemental amounts.
Research has not determined the level at which such problems might arise. However, a serious condition involving damage to the large intestines called fibrosing colonopathy has resulted from the use of pancreatic enzymes in children with cystic fibrosis. Until more is known, children with cystic fibrosis needing to take pancreatic enzymes should only do so under the careful supervision of a knowledgeable healthcare professional-