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Enzymes: What Can and Cannot be Supplemented
C. Leigh Broadhurst, Ph.D.
Aug 11, 2004

All living things depend on the swift completion of thousands of biochemical reactions every hour. High temperatures generally speed up chemical reactions, but all complex life forms have metabolic temperatures below 40°C. In order to increase the pace of biochemistry, life forms are completely dependent on enzymes for virtually every metabolic function. Enzymes are protein molecules that catalyze chemical reactions. They act as intermediaries or facilitators to accelerate biochemical reactions. Enzyme catalysts are supposed to remain unchanged by the reactions they participate in they are recycled to do their jobs over and over again. (1,2)

No biological system is perfect, least of all complex creatures such as mammals. Organs such as the pancreas secrete enzymes to aid in food digestion, but many of these enzymes are damaged or excreted during the process of digestion, absorption, and elimination, and are not recycled.

In other cases enzyme excretion may be insufficient for the needs of an individual, thereby hindering utilization of nutrients. Dr. Edward Howell hypothesized that a diet composed of cooked and processed foods in which the natural enzymes are denatured leads to enzyme insufficiency and stresses the organs which secrete enzymes (e.g. pancreas, duodenum). A lifetime of eating "dead foods" is a contributing factor for chronic indigestion, diabetes, obesity, pancreatitis, and gastrointestinal cancer.(3) It's well know that animals and humans eating what researchers call a "cafeteria diet" (just what you'd imagine all you can eat buffet of institutional food favorites) suffer inordinately from obesity, diabetes, pancreatitis, ulcers, and gall bladder disease. (4-7)

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Bromelain, from the stem of the pineapple, is the most commonly supplemented enzyme.
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There's a school of thought that enzyme supplementation can correct secretory insufficiencies and improve nutrition, and in turn overall health."(1,3) Bear in mind the majority of enzymes our body uses daily are not candidates for supplementation. They cannot now be synthesized or extracted, except perhaps at great cost, and would not be effective if taken orally. Certain enzymes are used as drugs, intravenously or orally. Fibrinolytic enzymes dissolve the protein in blood clots, and can be injected into the bloodstream to break up clots threatening to impede circulation. Children with cystic fibrosis are given enzymes to thin their abnormally viscous mucus. Individuals with rare defects in enzyme systems may be given special enzyme preparations. Patients with pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, or pancreatic damage due to alcoholism may be prescribed pancreatic enzyme supplements. (1-4,7,8)

Enzyme supplementation within the natural products/alternative medicine industries is restricted to inexpensive, widely available, multifunctional enzymes that can be taken orally or applied topically. The four areas for enzyme therapy are (1) acute injury (trauma); (2) chronic inflammation and allergies; (3) digestive disorders; (4) cancer treatment. The major types of enzymes are proteases, lipases, amylases, and glycases. They work on protein, fat, starch, and sugar substrates respectively.

ACUTE AND CHRONIC INFLAMMATION AND ALLERGIES
Bromelain. A mixture of proteases derived from the stem of the pineapple plant, bromelain is the most commonly supplemented enzyme. You know bromelain already it's the active ingredient in meat tenderizer. Bromelain's forte is acute inflammation. It reduces swelling after surgery or severe laceration. Soft tissue injuries (bruising, strains, hematomas) caused by accidents or contact sports will heal days sooner if bromelain is taken right after the injury, and continued for at least 3 6 days.(9-11) Bromelain can be use topically to debride and disinfect wounds. It exfoliates the skin, refreshing the complexion and aiding skin diseases such as psoriasis. It can also be useful for chronic inflammation such as arthritis and tendonitis as part of a combination therapy. Ulcers and digestive difficulties may be relieved with bromelain.(12,13)

Bromelain is highly regarded for seasonal allergy treatment, to reduce swelling of the throat, sinuses, and nasal passages, and thin mucus so that it may be more easily expectorated.(14,15) Blood thinning and prevention of blood clots leading to thrombophiebitis and heart attack is another benefit of bromelain that's not as widely known as it should be.

Recommended dosages: For acute allergies or injuries adults and children 12 and up, 500 mg 3 4 times per day. The enzyme potency of the product should be listed at around 1800 to 2000 m.c.u. or 1000 to 1200 g.d.u. If it's lower, then increase dosage accordingly. It may be best to take bromelain on an empty stomach or with just a snack, not with a full meal. Children 5 12 can take half doses, consult a professional for children under 5. For chronic inflammation or pain 300 500 mg twice per day. The dosage can be increased as needed.

Multienzyme supplements for pain and inflammation relief blend various proteases. The exact mixes in commercially available products are proprietary, however, bromelain will normally be a primary ingredient. Use as directed, following the same protocol and precautions as with bromelain.

Precautions: Your customer can be allergic to bromelain if you're allergic to pineapple, meat tenderizer, or other tropical fruits. Occupational asthma and chemical sensitivity due to excessive bromelain or pineapple exposure has been reported.(15) Bromelain may potentiate the effect of certain antibiotics, and may be contraindicated for anticoagulant drugs.

DIGESTIVE DISORDERS
Papain is another common group of proteases derived from tropical fruit in this case, the papaya plant. Papain has many industrial uses, such as breaking down proteins for medical research, stain removal, food processing, and drug manufacture. "Papaya enzyme" sweetened chewable papain tablets are common in the natural products marketplace. They facilitate digestion of large amounts of protein, but there's no solid evidence that papain alone aids generalized indigestion.

Recommended dosages: Adults and children 12 and up chew two to four tablets with a heavy meal. There's no reason to take papain on a daily basis, and children should rarely require this supplement.

Precautions: Your customer can be allergic to papain if he/he is allergic to papaya or other tropical fruits. Papain is from the latex (milky sap) of the papaya leaf or unripe fruit, and persons with latex allergies (i.e. surgical gloves, wound dressings, elastic waistbands) can have allergic cross reactions. Occupational asthma and chemical sensitivity due to excessive papain or papaya exposure has been reported.(15,16)

Multienzyme supplements for digestive difficulties blend proteases, lipases, and amylases. Nonprescription enzyme blends are based on a limited number of readily available sources, otherwise costs would be prohibitive. Papain is almost always included; bromelain and fig latex are common. Also added are pancreatin, a mix of enzymes from swine or bovine pancreas; the stomach/intestinal enzymes pepsin, trypsin and chymotrypsin extracted from various livestock; amylase/glycases from plant, animal, and/or microbial sources; and possibly thymus enzymes from calves or lambs.(1,2)

Persons with lactose intolerance have insufficient production of the enzyme lactase to digest the milk sugar lactose They can supplement lactase, or let microorganisms do the job for them. Lactobacillus bacteria manufacture lactase, fermenting lactose to produce lactic acid. Lactic acid gives cultured dairy products such as yogurt and buttermilk their characteristic tart taste. Similarly, soybeans are fermented with microorganisms including Aspergillus and Bacillus to produce soy sauce, tempeh, natto etc. Fermented soy products contain numerous enzymes which aid in the assimilation of soy protein and benefit overall health.(17 19)

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Enzyme therapy is not a widely accepted practice in North America, but is used in Eastern Europe, India, and Asia
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The benefits of adding enzyme blends to the diets of livestock, especially swine, are well documented.(20,21) Many amylases and glycases (i.e. xylanase, cellulase, galactanase, mannanase, pectinase) are added to grain feeds in order to convert some of the indigestible carbohydrates acting only as dietary fiber to accessible energy sources. Phytases are added so that livestock can access phosphorous tied up in indigestible phytates.(22)

These principles can be applied to humans eating high fiber diets that provide large amounts of indigestible carbohydrate. Specialty enzyme blends reduce flatulence from high fiber, mainly legume based diets are available. Conversely, "starch blocker" supplements interfere with the actions of amylases, reducing our ability to digest dietary carbohydrates (and causing flatulence as a side effect!). In subSaharan Africa, the onset of severe malnutrition usually occurs at weaning when children are taken off breast milk and put on cereal based diets. In a clinical trial, 30 healthy African children 10 24 months who had just been weaned to a cornmeal based diet were given supplemental alpha amylase with their porridge to see if it would help them better utilize this food source. The enzyme supplementation increased protein intake from the largely vegan diet by 10 percent.(23)

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Enzymes can help consumers make amends for a diet of nutritionally "dead" foods.
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CANCER TREATMENT
Oral multienzyme treatment has been shown to improve quality of life for cancer patients following surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. Enzyme therapy is not a widely accepted practice in North America, but is used in Eastern Europe, India, and Asia. Preparations utilized are similar to those discussed above, containing for example trypsin, chymotrypsin and papain. For thousands of patients with advanced breast, cervical, or colorectal cancer side effects of cancer surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation including gastrointestinal and skin disorders, mental confusion, headache, pain, cachexia, and infections are uniformly reduced when multienzyme supplements are given along with treatment.(24-26)

Enough cancer patients have been given enzyme therapy as an adjunct to primary treatment that statistically, those taking enzyme mixtures also benefited from reduced cancer recurrence and metastasis, and greater survival rates. Indeed, intensive enzyme therapy (usually requiring injections) has been practiced in alternative cancer clinics for a century now, with some amazing but anecdotal results.(1,3)

Administration of enzymes as primary cancer therapy is outside the realm of today's natural products industry. We need to focus on the potential cancer preventive effects of enzyme supplementation, through its ability to improve nutrient digestion and utilization, and to make amends for a diet based heavily on cooked and processed foods and alcohol. Raw foods enthusiasts may never need enzyme supplementation; however, raw foods are not safe, practical, or palatable for many, especially children and the elderly. Enzyme supplementation provides a means to bridge this gap, putting "rawness" back into cooked foods. VR

REFERENCES

1. Lopez DA, Williams AM, Mehike M (1994). Enzymes: The Fountain of Life, Neville Press, Charleston, SC.
2. Berdanier CD (1995). Advanced Nutrition: Macronutnents. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
3. Howell E (1985). Enzyme Nutrition. Avery Publishing, WaWe, NJ.
4. Kirby DF, Dudr'ck SJ, eds, (1994). Practical Handbook of Nutrition in Clinical Practice CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
5. Salbe AD, DelParigi A, Pratley RE, at al. (2004). Taste preferences and body weight changes in an obesityprone population. Am J Olin

VITAMIN RETAILER June 2004
Enzymes: What Can and Cannot be Supplemented
By C. Leigh Broadhurst, Ph.D.
Pages 44 48

© Copyright 2004 by ENZYMEUNIVERSITY.COM

Digestive Enzymes Plus

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Digestive Enzymes Plus is a broad-spectrum enzyme supplement of a proprietary blend of 17 food enzymes plus enzymatically active wild blue-green algae, algae xtracts, ginger, and anise.

It is designed to support:

• Digestion and reduce the symptoms of occasional indigestion, including occasional heartburn, gas, bloating, and nausea
• Healthy respiratory function
• Enhanced extraction and assimilation of nutrients from food
• Joint health and promotion of healthy joint function
• Healthy elimination