A-Z enzyme supplements Articles

Proteases are essential enzymes that break down proteins into amino acids, making them easier for your body to absorb and use. Found naturally in foods and supplements, proteases vary in type and work best at specific pH levels to support digestion, nutrient absorption, and overall health. Adequate protease activity helps maintain healthy blood protein levels, aids in recovery, and supports immune function, while deficiencies can lead to digestive discomfort and poor nutrient absorption. Let's delve into ways to optimize your protease intake to maximize your health.

What is Protein?

Protein is the major building block of much of the structure of our bodies. It is used as the building block for: muscles, skin, hormones, cell signaling molecules, and immune response molecules. It is even part of our bones. Protein is also the major building block for most other organisms, so we get protein in a lot of the food that we eat, but particularly from meats, dairy products, nuts and legumes.

Types of Proteases

There are a wide variety of proteases in the body and each is specialized to its particular niche and task in the body. The digestive proteases form a smaller subgroup of three main enzymes:

• Pepsin
• Trypsin
• Chymotrypsin

Proteases are excreted in the digestive tract in two main locations, the stomach and the intestines. An acid protease called pepsin is released into the stomach by "chief cells" in the stomach lining, and other proteases called trypsin and chymotrypsin are released into the small intestine by the pancreas. Both types of protease are essential for proper digestion of the foods we eat.

Optimal pH For Protease Enzymes

Different proteases require different pH levels to be activated and function optimally. Acid proteases such as pepsin work best in the stomach, as pepsin requires activation by stomach acid. Once the partially digested food moves to the small intestine, pancreatic juices neutralize the stomach acid and prevent further digestion by pepsin.

At the same time, the pancreatic juice contains proteases called trypsin and chymotrypsin which both function at the more basic pH found in the small intestine, where they continue to digest any protein present.

Does Protease Really Impact Blood Protein Digestion?

Some claims have been made that taking digestive enzymes between meals can have other functions in the body for breaking up blood clots or reducing the risk of some conditions. There is little research to back this up.

The body naturally produces a vast number of different proteases that perform internal functions. These enzymes are distinct from digestive enzymes, and are designed to work in the environment in which they are found. Pepsin, trypsin and chymotrypsin function in the various digestive environments where they are excreted. They are not readily absorbed into the bloodstream, as they were designed to stay in the digestive tract and act on our food. Although trypsin and chymotrypsin are in the same family (serine peptidases) as many of the blood peptases, they do not perform these functions. There are better treatment options available and other enzymes that are more effective for treating these health conditions.

Symptoms of Protease Deficiency

When the body fails to produce sufficient amounts of protease in the digestive tract, any protein ingested cannot be properly broken down. This protein maldigestion has twofold consequences.

When the body does not absorb sufficient amino acids it cannot create new proteins of its own. This means there is not enough protein to build new muscle, bone, skin, hormones, cell signalling molecules, and immune response molecules. This can cause a litany of problems, including muscle wasting, peeling skin, hormonal imbalances, blood pressure variation, edema (water retention), and an increased susceptibility to infections.

In addition to these problems, any protein left in the digestive tract continues through the intestines where it is digested by gut microbes. Digestion of protein in this way causes the production of extremely foul smelling gas. This "rotten egg" gas, and putrid smelling stools are the two main signs that protein maldigestion is occurring.

How To Get More Protease?

Proteases can be found in a number of different digestive aid supplements, often in combination with other digestive enzymes such as amylase and lipase. The recommended dosage for protease depends on your natural body chemistry and the protein content of the foods you are eating. It also depends on the source and activity of the particular enzyme preparation. A dose of between 75,000 and 300,000 USP is a general guideline based on recommendations for pancreatin supplementation.

Please note that the dosing of these supplements can be confusing, where the amount per gram may be listed, when the actual dose is a fraction of that (eg. 50mg is 0.05g). In general, because of the lack of standardization, dosing protease will require a bit of trial and error on your part.

Important Information

It is not known if supplementation of digestive enzymes during pregnancy or breastfeeding can cause harm to the baby so avoid supplementation during these times. Taking too much protease at one time may cause diarrhea or stomach pain.

The pancreas is a relatively large gland located near the small intestine and stomach that spans a large part of the upper abdomen over to the spleen. For digestion, the pancreas is responsible for releasing digestive enzymes into the small intestine to continue to break up food after it leaves the stomach, and it releases bicarbonate for neutralizing any stomach acid in the intestines. In the bloodstream, the pancreas releases several hormones, including insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating the amount of sugar taken into your cells and the amount left in the bloodstream.

The pancreas is one of the first glandular extracts ever studied by the scientific community, and it was this research thatled to the development of the first treatments for diabetes. Purified pancreatic extract is often referred to as "pancreatin".

Understanding The Relationship Between The Pancreas and Diabetes

Because there are two major roles of the pancreas, malfunction of this organ can appear in two different ways: either as diabetes or as maldigestion and malabsorption.

Each function is performed by a distinct subgroup of cells, so having one problem does not mean you will have both.

Type I Diabetes is caused by the destruction of the subclass of cells in the pancreas that produce insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. This is different from Type II Diabetes, which has to do with the sensitivity of insulin receptors in the body's cells.

Pancreatic Insufficiency and Digestion

Enzymes naturally occur in all raw foods. We refer to the "ripeness" of a food as its readiness to be eaten. Ripe foods are most abundant in enzymes that are used for digestion; however, these enzymes are destroyed by cooking and processing. This means that most of the foods consumed by the average person today are deficient in enzymes. This forces the body to make up the difference, which it is sometimes unable to do. This state is often referred to as "enzyme deficiency" or "pancreatic insufficiency". 

Pancreatic insufficiency results in limited quantities of digestive enzymes that break down starch (amylase), protein (protease), and fats (lipase) into subunits that are small enough to be absorbed through your intestinal walls.

When there are insufficient enzymes present in the amount of food that you consume, you do not get the nutrition you need from the food that you eat. This can result in weight loss or weight gain (a compensation by the body) and physical symptoms of nutritional deficiency such as fatigue, dry skin, hair loss, and brittle nails. At the same time, the food that you do not completely digest in your small intestine continues to your colon where it is broken down by intestinal microbes which can result in gas, bloating, cramping, constipation or diarrhea and steatorrhea (fat in the stool). Undigested food particles in people with "leaky gut" can result in immune reactions and a litany of resultant health concerns such as autoimmune diseases. People with any combination of the above symptoms can often benefit from supplementation of pancreatic enzymes. The most natural way to get these enzymes in the proportions they are producedin nature, without changing food preparation habits, is to take pancreatic extract.

Pancreatic Extract Supplement Options

Although pancreatic extract was the first treatment available for those with diabetes in the early 1900s, it was quickly replaced by more effective and concentrated pharmaceuticals like insulin in the 1930s as well as other medications as time progressed. An effective way to supplement missing digestive enzymes in people with insufficient pancreatic function is to ingest an extract created from an animal pancreas. The most common sources are bovine (cow), porcine (pig), and ovine (sheep). It is theorized that supplementing with pancreatic glandular extract can provide the body with the nutrients, cofactors, precursors and enzymes necessary to promote proper pancreatic function.

Taking Pancreatic Extract

Pancreatic extract can be found in products from several different sources, such as tablets or capsules. Like other glandulars, it is important to ensure that the extract comes from a reliable and safe source. Animals raised in New Zealand are often the best and safest source. Unfortunately, like other glandular extracts, there is very little standardization, and the dose depends on the underlying need and the concentration of each formula. Following the manufacturer's recommended dosing on the label and monitoring symptoms are often the best way to determine your correct dose.

Important Information

There is little safety information on pancreatic extract available. Because of this, it is best to err on the side of caution and at least follow the same restrictions as those that apply to pancreatin supplementation (as follows). "Do not take pancreatin if you are pregnant or nursing. Do not use if you have active bleeding or blood disorders or if you use blood thinners, and discontinue pancreatin 2 weeks prior to dental work or surgery. Pancreatin can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mouth and skin irritation, and allergic reactions."