Digest IT!

Digestive enzyme supplements are one of the most commonly purchased gut health products — and one of the most frequently misused. People buy broad-spectrum “digestive enzyme” supplements without knowing which enzymes they actually need, or whether the problem they’re experiencing is even enzyme-related.

This guide cuts through that. Here are the five key digestive enzymes, what they do, the signs you might be low in each, and how to make a rational choice about supplementation.

The 5 Key Digestive Enzymes

1. Amylase — For Carbohydrates

Amylase breaks down complex carbohydrates (starches) into simpler sugars. It’s produced in two places: the salivary glands (salivary amylase, which is why chewing carbohydrates properly matters) and the pancreas (pancreatic amylase).

Signs you may need more amylase:

• Bloating and gas specifically after starchy meals (pasta, bread, rice, potatoes)
• Undigested food visible in stool
• Blood sugar spikes and crashes after carbohydrate meals
• Chronic fatigue after eating

2. Protease (and Peptidase) — For Protein

Proteases break proteins into peptides and amino acids. They include pepsin (produced in the stomach, requires sufficient hydrochloric acid to activate), trypsin and chymotrypsin (pancreatic, released into the small intestine), and peptidases (that complete the breakdown into individual amino acids).

This is one of the most commonly deficient groups — largely because protease function depends on adequate stomach acid, and low stomach acid is extremely common (particularly in people over 50, those on acid-suppressing medications, and those under chronic stress).

Signs you may need more protease:

• Bloating and heaviness after high-protein meals (meat, eggs, legumes)
• Feeling full for an unusually long time after eating
• Foul-smelling gas (undigested protein ferments particularly badly)
• Low energy despite eating enough protein
• Taking a PPI or antacid regularly

3. Lipase — For Fats

Lipase breaks down dietary fats into fatty acids and glycerol. It’s produced primarily by the pancreas and released into the small intestine. Bile from the gallbladder is needed alongside lipase to emulsify fat first — which is why people who’ve had their gallbladder removed frequently need lipase support.

Signs you may need more lipase:

• Greasy, floating, or pale stools (a classic sign of fat malabsorption)
• Nausea or discomfort after fatty meals
• Diarrhoea or loose stools triggered by fat intake
• Deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) despite adequate intake
• History of gallbladder removal, pancreatitis, or pancreatic insufficiency

4. Lactase — For Lactose

Lactase breaks down lactose (the sugar in dairy products) into glucose and galactose. Lactase production often declines after childhood — lactose intolerance is a normal adult condition for a majority of the world’s population, not a pathology.

Signs you may be lactase-deficient:

• Bloating, gas, cramping, or diarrhoea within 30–120 minutes of consuming dairy
• Symptoms improve when avoiding milk and ice cream but persist with yogurt and aged cheese (which are lower in lactose)
• Family history of lactose intolerance

Lactase supplements (taken immediately before consuming dairy) are one of the best-evidenced and most predictably effective enzyme supplements available.

5. Cellulase and Hemicellulase — For Plant Fiber

Humans don’t produce cellulase — the enzyme that breaks down plant cell walls. We rely entirely on gut bacteria for this. However, supplemental cellulase and hemicellulase can reduce the gas produced when plant fibre reaches bacteria in the colon, and may improve nutrient extraction from vegetables.

Signs you may benefit:

• Significant gas and bloating after eating raw vegetables, legumes, or high-fibre foods
• Visible vegetable matter in stool
• Sensitivity to a wide range of plant foods

How to Choose: Targeted vs Broad-Spectrum

If you have a clear pattern — dairy is the issue, or it’s always after high-fat meals — a targeted enzyme makes more sense and is better value. If your symptoms span multiple food types, a broad-spectrum formula is more practical.

What to look for in a broad-spectrum enzyme supplement:

• Amylase, protease/peptidase, lipase, and lactase as a minimum
• Activity units listed (e.g., 1000 HUT for protease, 2500 ALU for amylase) — these are more meaningful than milligrams
• Acid-stable protease (for activity in the low-pH stomach environment)
• Consider adding ox bile extract if fat malabsorption is a key issue

Enzymedica Digest Gold is one of the most well-formulated broad-spectrum options available — high activity units across all major enzyme categories, and it includes a thera-blend protease designed to be active across a wide pH range.

Who Benefits Most from Digestive Enzymes

• People over 50 (enzyme production naturally declines with age)
• Anyone taking proton pump inhibitors or antacids (reduce stomach acid → reduce protease activation)
• Post-gallbladder removal (impaired bile → reduced fat digestion → lipase support particularly useful)
• Chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic insufficiency
• Celiac disease or IBD (gut lining damage reduces brush border enzyme production)
• Anyone who consistently eats quickly or under stress (impairs the cephalic digestive response)