Benefits of Digestive Enzymes

Evidence-Based Benefits

• Pancreatic insufficiency — PERT is standard of care for EPI; Dominguez-Munoz (2011) reviewed that adequate lipase supplementation normalizes fat absorption and eliminates steatorrhea
• Lactose intolerance — exogenous lactase (e.g., Lactaid) effectively prevents symptoms when taken with dairy; de Vrese et al. (2001, n=18) confirmed symptom reduction
• Functional dyspepsia — Suarez et al. (1999) found alpha-galactosidase significantly reduced flatulence from high-fiber meals containing raffinose and stachyose
• Bloating reduction — a 2018 RCT (Quinten et al., n=40) found a multi-enzyme supplement reduced post-meal bloating and fullness in healthy adults eating a high-calorie meal

What the Research Says

Digestive enzymes are essential for addressing pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, where pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is the standard treatment. For specific food intolerances such as lactose intolerance and legume sugar malabsorption, single-enzyme products like lactase and alpha-galactosidase are well-supported by evidence. However, the use of over-the-counter (OTC) broad-spectrum enzymes for functional dyspepsia remains an emerging area with growing research support.

A systematic review by Prpa et al. (2021) highlights that polyphenol-rich fruit extracts can inhibit α-amylase more effectively than α-glucosidase, suggesting potential interactions between dietary components and digestive enzyme activity. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30 middle-aged and older adults, Deutz et al. (2026) found that oral multienzyme supplementation increased postprandial glucose and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels compared to placebo, indicating a possible role in nutrient metabolism.

Animal studies have also demonstrated benefits of enzyme supplementation. Zhu et al. (2025) reported that combining essential oils, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and isomaltooligosaccharides improved intestinal absorption and immune functions in weaned piglets. Similarly, Badawy et al. (2025) found significant improvements in growth performance, immune function, and gut health in rabbits supplemented with Laurus nobilis extract.

Despite these advancements, a key limitation remains: many OTC products lack the rigorous testing standards applied to prescription PERT products, which may affect their efficacy and safety profiles.

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