Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
Over-the-counter enzyme supplements are being increasingly used for a variety of indications across the globe.
What some experts are saying
According to Dr. Varayil and colleagues at the Mayo Clinic and as published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2014, “The historical and preclinical data on enzymes are intriguing regarding digestion, antiinflammatory properties and anticancer properties. Emerging clinical data seem to support many of these purported benefits”.
Is It Leaky Gut or Leaky Gut Syndrome?
Manufacturer based benefits of enzyme supplements
- Inflammatory diseases
- Multiple sclerosis
- Pancreatic deficiency
- Allergies
- Burns
- Infections
- Cancer
Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
Some enzyme supplements available on market
Some pancreatic enzyme supplements are prescription based products. Over-the-counter (OTC) enzyme supplements include:
Sources of over the counter enzyme supplements
- Bromolein: Dervied from pinapple plant and breaks down proteins
- Papain from the papaya fruit is used on skin wounds
- Trypsin derived from bacterial, fungal or animal sources is used locally for treatment of wounds.
- Chymotrypsin is dervied animal sources and evidence suggests benefit in burn patients. When given by mouth, it reduces swelling and inflammation in patients with fractures.
Mechansim of action of enzyme supplements
Is It Leaky Gut or Leaky Gut Syndrome?
Studies are conflicting on their effect on inflammation. Hence the precise mechanism of action is mired in dispute.
Is enzyme production reduced in elderly
There is no clear evidence that the levels of enzymes are consistently reduced during the aging process.
Do the enzymes taken by mouth get absorbed into the body
The convention objection to the use of enzyme supplements by mouth to control inflammation elsewhere in the body has been that thes enzymes would be broken down by digestive juices in the gut and hence rendered useless and not have effects elsewhere in the body.
Data however indicates that that may not always be the case. Animal as well human studies have now documentd that bromelain is seen in blood after oral ingestion. Other enzymes such as kallikrein when taken by mouth have body wide effects including effects on blood pressure suggesting they are abosorbed through the gut.
According to Dr. Maurer from the Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, “The claim that bromelain cannot be effective after oral administration is definitely refuted at this time”.
Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
Role of enzyme supplements in digestive health
A double-blind, crossover study conducted by Drs. Suarez and colleagues from Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minnesota, found that use of a combination of pancreatic enzymes decreses bloating and fullness in healthy adults.
Clinical use of enzyme supplements
While mired in controversy, multiple in vitro, animal and human studies especially using enzyme combinations make a strong case for evidence based use of such supplements.
Anti-inflammatory effects of enzymne supplements
Trypsin, bromelain and papain have been shown to have reduce swelling and promote healing.
Dr. Klein and colleagues from the Rehabilitation Centre for Cardiovascular and Rheumatic Diseases, Saalfelden, Germany, conducted a double bling controlled comparing oral enzymes (Phlogenzym®) with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for painful osteoarthritis. The investigators found that 71.1% of the PE patients on enzyme supplements rated good or very goodon global investigator assessments as comapred to r 61.4% of the patients taking diclofenac.
A randomized, double-blind, parallel group trial conducted by Akhtar and collaagues compared oral enzymes to diclofenac for treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. The investigators found that enzyme supplements were at least as effective and probably slightly superior to diclofenac for treatment of painful episodes of osteoarthritis.
Effect on muscle stiffness in athletes
Is It Leaky Gut or Leaky Gut Syndrome?
Studies have come to conflicting conclusions. This may be related to the differnt types of patients recruited to the studies and not just an effect of enzyme supplements.
Miller and colleagues from the Elon University, Elon, NC, studied 20 subjects in a placebo controlled study. The enzyme group that took a combination of trypsin, papain, bromelain, amylase, lipase, lysozyme, chymotrypisn showed superior muscle recovery and reduced delayed-onset muscle soreness after downhill running as compared to placebo.
A similar double blind study by Dr. Deitrick demonstrated reduced apaina nd swelling with accelerated healing due to inuries.
In contrast other studies have found enzyme supplements to be of no benefit in muscle soreness or for soft tissue ankle injuries.
Enzyme supplements for cancer
While laboratory data is promising demonstrating their toxic effects on tumor cells and blocking their migration and thus spread, there is no good clinical data examining this issue.
Bottomline
While the data may not be conclusive, there is enough evidence to support their use on a time-limited personal trial basis.
Wall Street Journal Best Seller Dr. M's Seven-X Plan for Digestive Health
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