There’s a quick answer to the question posed in the title of this blog. Digestive enzymes and probiotics could be construed as teammates in the sense that both are involved in aiding our digestion. Beyond that, however, they go their separate ways – sort of. One might say they wear the same colors on their uniforms while playing different sports.
Probiotics are live microorganisms – billions of them inside each of us, perched in our gut (or more specifically the digestive tract). They support gut health by striving to keep our microbiome in balance. Digestive enzymes (also referred to as “proteolytic enzymes”), on the other hand, are non-living proteins produced in various areas of the body (mainly in the pancreas, stomach and small intestine). These enzymes perform the tasks of breaking down ingested food into nutrients to be absorbed by the body. Proteins get converted into amino acids, fats into fatty acids, and carbohydrates into simple sugars – and life goes on.
So, yes, proteolytic enzymes and probiotics are on the same side – our side – in terms of positively supporting our health. Both are readily available in supplemental form as natural remedies, but they perform their assigned functions through separate mechanisms. In summary, digestive enzymes and probiotics complement one another without competing against each other.
What Are Digestive Enzymes, and What Do They Do?
These naturally occurring substances are proteins that assist in the process of digestion, which is essential to releasing the nutrients embedded in food and tasked to supply energy to our body, assist in our growth, and perform important functions. Of the three parts of our body that produce proteolytic enzymes, the pancreas is generally considered the most instrumental. That is because it produces more such enzymes than either the stomach or small intestine, their main mission being to break down consumed carbohydrates. Our saliva actually “turns the key” to start the process of breaking down our food, earning it a designation as a digestive enzyme as well.
What Does a Deficiency of Digestive Enzymes Entail?
A digestive enzyme deficiency has been linked to malnutrition and gastrointestinal irritation. Common symptoms include belly pain or cramps, bloating, diarrhea, gas or oily bowel movements (symptoms also among those addressed by probiotics). Lactose intolerance, for example, which is linked to a digestive enzyme shortage, can block your body from being able to properly digest sugar naturally found in dairy product, such as milk.
8 Common Types of Digestive Enzymes
Following is a list of eight of the better-known types of digestive enzymes, presented in alphabetical order. All are generally available as supplement components:
Amylase. Also found in unripe bananas, amylase has been identified as a starch-digesting enzyme. It is primarily naturally produced by your pancreas and salivary glands.
Bromelain. Known for being a component substance of pineapples, bromelain is actually a composite of several naturally occurring enzymes. As a supplement it can help treat pain and swelling found in your nose, sinuses and gums.
Chymotrypsin. This enzyme belongs to a family of enzymes that also includes the likes of trypsin, mentioned later on this list.
Lactase. This enzyme, found in the small intestine, is known to generate the breakdown of milk sugar (lactose) into glucose and galactose, which are classified as simple sugars..
Lipase. This enzyme mainly targets fats known as lipids, using a process known as hydrolysis to break down large fat molecules. Like some other digestive enzymes, lipase can be found in supplemental compounds useful for pets such as dogs and cats.
Pancreatin. This multi-enzyme supplement, a pancreatic extract, contains a mix of protease, amylase and lipase.
Papain. This enzyme, derived from the papaya plant, contributes to the breakdown of proteins into smaller protein fragments called peptides and amino acids.
Protease. Yet another enzyme that helps in the breakdown of food during digestion, protease can help in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome as well as in the clotting of blood.
Trypsin. Produced in the small intestine, this enzyme is classified as a “serine protease” that assists in breaking the bonds that hold proteins together.
Digestive enzymes, also known as proteolytic enzymes, are different than probiotics, although both serve similar functions in helping in the breakdown of ingested foods and supporting our overall health. Be sure to discuss your use of any specific supplements supplying these enzymes with your personal physician before acquiring them to add to your daily regimen.