Digestion and Digestive Enzymes
Digestion is a multi-step process that begins in the mouth and ends in the large intestine. In the mouth food is mechanically separated with the teeth and salivary amylase begins to break down starch to smaller chain polysaccharides. The food is then transferred to the stomach where the low-pH gastric acid denatures the proteins, unraveling them for pepsin proteases to begin the cleaving process. From the stomach, food is transferred to the small intestine, where the pancreas plays the vital role of secreting digestive enzymes. These enzymes are responsible for the majority of nutrient breakdown before absorption.*
Different enzymes are responsible for breaking down the many components of food. Carbohydrate breakdown includes enzymes specific for polysaccharides and disaccharides. Amylase and glucoamylase break down starch and glycogen. Invertase, also known as sucrase, breaks down sucrose, while lactase breaks down the milk sugar known as lactose. Proteases separate peptide bonds, breaking down proteins to di- and tri-peptides. Lipase breaks triglycerides into fatty acids after they have been emulsified by bile acids.*
In some cases, digestive enzyme supplements can support the pancreas and enhance digestion. A basic digestive enzyme is composed of protease, amylase and lipase, which can be derived from either vegetarian or animal sources. Vegetarian digestive enzymes are derived from fermentation of Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus niger, Saccharomyces cerevisea and Trichoderma longibrachiatum. These enzymes are isolated and purified to remove all microorganisms and vegetable medium from the final product. Because they are vegetarian-derived, they are active in a broader pH range compared to animal-derived digestive enzymes.*
After the small intestine, the undigested material is passed to the large intestine. Microorganisms in the large intestine digest some of the fiber, releasing nutrients for absorption. They also manufacture certain nutrients, such as vitamin K and short chain fatty acids. Some supplemental digestive enzyme products also contain enzymes that people do not naturally produce, such as cellulase, hemicellulase, beta-glucanase and phytase. These enzymes break down the non-soluble anti-nutritive polysaccharides from fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes, enhancing nutrient release and absorption. Alpha-galactosidase breaks down oligosaccharides, such as raffinose and stachyose, found in legumes, cruciferous vegetables and some grains. Since humans do not make this enzyme, without supplementation intestinal bacteria ferment these oligosaccharides producing gas as a byproduct. Supplementing with alpha-galactosidase helps to relieve occasional bloating or gas from this buildup.*
Comparisons between digestive enzyme units can be difficult because assays are condition dependent and standardized for specific pH, substrate and temperature. They also vary according to source material. Pure Encapsulations offers a variety of digestive enzyme products, including Digestive Enzymes Ultra, Digestion GB, A.I. Enzymes, Pancreatic Enzyme Formula, Pancreatic VegEnzymes and Pancreatic VegEnzymes L.*
For educational purposes only. Consult your physician for any health problems.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
|
|
|
|
|
|
