Making Sense of Digestive Enzymes

Enzymes are functional proteins essential to all living systems. In humans, enzymes act as catalysts for numerous chemical reactions including the digestion of dietary macronutrients. In the early part of the twentieth century, use of supplemental digestive enzymes was proposed as a means of compensating for the loss of enzyme activity in modern diets. As with the loss of micronutrients like vitamins and minerals from highly refined and processed foods, the loss of enzymes was thought to be an unrecognized factor contributing to poor health and disease. In the ensuing decades, research studies demonstrated supplemental enzymes can improve digestion of dietary macronutrients and reduce a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms including gas, bloating, heartburn, nausea and abdominal discomfort. While the importance of enzymes in helping to maintain optimal health has yet to be as widely acknowledged as that of other micronutrients, research documenting their benefits continues to mount. This paper reviews the various types of enzymes, their health benefits, and use in enzyme supplements.