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STAYING HEALTHY
Can digestive enzyme supplements soothe bloating discomforts?
On call
November 1, 2022
By Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
Question:
I often experience uncomfortable and bloated sensations after meals. Although I haven't pinpointed any specific food triggers, would taking digestive enzyme supplements help alleviate this issue?
Answer:
Digestive enzyme supplements are marketed as solutions to a variety of abdominal issues such as bloating, gas production, irregular bowel movements, and overall gastrointestinal health improvement. However, for most individuals, studies do not show substantial evidence supporting their efficacy.
Digestive enzymes naturally break down food components so that nutrients can be absorbed by the body. These enzymes are produced in your mouth, stomach, and small intestine primarily by your pancreas during digestion. Three mn pancreatic digestive enzymes include lipase which breaks down fats, amylase responsible for carbohydrate breakdown, and proteasespeptidases which target protein degradation.
The lack of sufficient enzyme production within the body can slow down digestion, leading to uncomfortable symptoms. For example, insufficient lactase production in your small intestine could result in difficulty digesting lactose, the sugar found in milk products, causing bloating, flatulence, and loose stools.
Prescribed digestive enzyme pills may replace a lack of natural enzyme production when people cannot produce enough enzymes due to health conditions like chronic pancreatitis or cystic fibrosis. People with known deficiencies benefit from these prescription drugs.
Nonetheless, over-the-counter digestive enzyme supplements are avlable in stores both online and offline but lack FDA regulation. Therefore, it's not guaranteed that the pills contn accurate information regarding their composition and dosages.
Lactase supplementation might assist people managing lactose intolerance, while an alpha-galactosidase supplement could potentially alleviate gas and bloating if you struggle with digesting sugars found in legumes.
It may be useful to consider making dietary changes to manage discomfort better. Consulting a registered dietitian would provide valuable guidance.
About the Author
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor at Harvard Health Publishing, and editor-in-chief of Harvard Men’s Health Watch at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, offers his expertise as an internist with extensive experience in medical writing and editing roles within healthcare publishing.
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