Pepsin

What Is Pepsin?

Did you know, the name “pepsin” comes from the Greek word pepsis, meaning "digestion? It is one of the first digestive enzymes discovered by renowned German physician and physiologist Theodor Schwann in 1836. Pepsin is one of the components of the gastric juices we secrete alongside water, mucus, hydrochloric acid, and intrinsic factor. Of these components, pepsin is the principal enzyme involved in protein digestion.

Indeed, as an aspartic protease, pepsin is required by humans (and many other animals) to properly digest the proteins found in foods such as those in meat, eggs, dairy products, nuts, and seeds. It does this by breaking the bonds linking amino acids together. More concretely, pepsin partially degrades proteins into smaller units in the digestive tract, which are either absorbed from the intestine into the bloodstream or broken down further by pancreatic enzymes. Some pepsin passes from the stomach into the bloodstream, breaking down some of the larger or partially undigested proteins that may have been absorbed by the small intestine.

Pepsin works best in an acidic environment, with a pH between 1.5 to 2, corresponding to gastric juices' typical acidity. This is key because the stomach is meant to be a highly acidic environment to break down all the foods we eat, from meat to tough, fibrous plants. Pepsin, however, does not function properly in environments with a pH of 6.5 or higher.

Those suffering from low stomach acid or digestive difficulties can significantly benefit from pepsin supplementation to enhance their digestion (especially that of proteins) and help manage all sorts of digestive health conditions.

Benefits of Pepsin

• Aids Liver Detoxification
• Boosts Nutrient Absorption
• Helps The Body Break Down Hard To Digest Proteins
• Soothes Symptoms Of Pancreatitis, GERD, Acid Reflux & Heartburn
• Stimulates Bile Secretion

Who Needs Pepsin?

A good quality pepsin supplement may be recommended to those who have difficulty digesting protein, people who regularly suffer from indigestion, or who have leaky gut, pancreatitis, gastric reflux (GERD), heartburn, and other issues like irritable bowel syndrome. A pepsin supplement may also be recommended to help manage problems such as dyspepsia, vomiting due to morning sickness, nausea and diarrhea, and digestive difficulties associated with cancer treatment.

Pepsin Supplements

Pepsin supplements are widely available in health food stores and online in capsule and tablet form. They can be purchased in isolated form, but more often than not, they come in combination blends with other digestive aids such as betaine HCL, glutamic acid HCL, bromelain, pancreatin, papain, and others. Always follow label instructions and dosing carefully.

Final Thoughts

While healthy lifestyle hygiene should enable your body to produce adequate pepsin for digestion, certain factors can reduce your production of stomach acid, resulting in lower pepsin production. Some of these include: 

Age — the body’s production of gastric juices naturally wanes with age

Stress — chronic stress hampers our ability to produce gastric juices

Smoking — reduces the body’s nutrient stores, which can impede our ability to produce stomach acid

Alcohol — compromises the body's ability to produce stomach acid 

Vitamin deficiencies — deficiencies in iron, zinc and B vitamins can inhibit stomach acid production

A quality pepsin supplement, alongside a few key lifestyle tweaks and dietary modifications, can get you back on track to healthy digestion and optimal nutrient absorption.