The best digestive enzymes do one thing well: help your body break down what you eat so you can actually absorb the nutrients in it.
If you often feel bloated and heavy after meals despite following a healthy diet, it may be worth taking a closer look at your digestion and ways to support this important process.
Here’s what you need to know about digestive enzymes, including what they are, their potential health benefits, and what to look for in a high-quality supplement.
Key Takeaways:
Digestive enzymes help break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates so your body can absorb nutrients.
The best digestive enzyme supplements include a full spectrum of enzymes (protease, lipase, amylase, cellulase, and lactase) and list individual enzyme potency.
If you regularly experience bloating, gas, or discomfort after meals, a digestive enzyme supplement may improve these symptoms.
Aging leads to a decline in the body's natural enzyme production, and some older adults may benefit from supplementation.
As always, consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement or nutrition program, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.
Table of Contents
- What Are Digestive Enzymes?
- Benefits of Digestive Enzymes
- Who May Benefit From Taking a Digestive Enzyme Supplement
- Key Enzymes to Look For in a Supplement
- How to Choose the Best Digestive Enzyme Supplement
- When to Take Digestive Enzymes
What Are Digestive Enzymes?
Digestive enzymes are proteins that your body naturally produces. Their job is to break down the foods you eat into individual nutrients that your body can absorb and use for their intended functions.
Your body, mainly your pancreas, produces several types of digestive enzymes that break down different nutrients. The main digestive enzymes are amylase, lipase, and protease, which break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, respectively. Most people produce adequate amounts of digestive enzymes to properly break down foods and drinks and absorb the nutrients found in them. However, some individuals have a digestive enzyme deficiency, meaning the body doesn’t produce enough of these enzymes.
For example, pancreatic cancer, chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis (CF), celiac disease, and genetic mutations, including SPINK1 mutations, are all conditions associated with digestive enzyme deficiency.
In these cases, healthcare providers may prescribe digestive enzymes to help break down food and reduce symptoms related to digestive enzyme deficiency, such as bloating and stomach pain.
Digestive enzyme supplements are more targeted toward people who may not be producing optimal amounts of digestive enzymes. This is different from a true digestive enzyme deficiency. For example, digestive enzyme supplements may be helpful for people who experience digestive symptoms like gas and bloating after eating — and if bloating is your primary concern, supplements for bloating may be worth considering alongside enzymes.
Benefits of Digestive Enzymes
Digestive enzymes may offer benefits to certain people, such as relieving certain symptoms of common health conditions that impact the gastrointestinal system and are medically necessary for people with certain health conditions, such as cystic fibrosis and stomach and pancreatic cancers.
However, it’s research on the benefits of digestive enzyme supplements for those without a true deficiency is limited, and there’s little evidence to support their use in healthy individuals.
Still, limited evidence suggests that digestive enzyme supplements may benefit people with conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), even in the absence of true digestive enzyme deficiency. In these cases, digestive enzyme supplements may help optimize digestion while providing symptom relief.
May Relieve IBS and IBD Symptoms
A 2017 study found that people who were treated with a combination of soluble fiber, a type of sugar called inositol, and digestive enzymes after lunch and dinner, alongside an IBD medication, mesalamine, for four weeks reported greater reductions in bloating, gas, and abdominal pain compared to participants who received mesalamine alone.
A 2026 study also showed that treatment with a specialized digestive enzyme blend helped reduce bloating, gas, pain, constipation, and diarrhea in people with IBS.
May Be Helpful for Other Digestive Conditions
Some research suggests digestive enzymes may offer supplemental support for people with non-celiac gluten intolerance as well as in people with dyspepsia, the medical term used to describe indigestion symptoms including a feeling of fullness during a meal, bloating, uncomfortable post-meal fullness, and upper abdominal pain.
A 2020 study that included 50 older adults with dyspepsia found that taking a combination of digestive enzymes and the probiotic Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 for five days led to greater improvements in symptoms such as bloating, gas, and abdominal pain compared to a placebo.
May Reduce Histamine Intolerance Symptoms
Specific enzymes, such as the enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO), may also be helpful in certain people, such as those with histamine intolerance.
Histamine is a naturally occurring compound found in the body and in certain foods. While it plays important roles in health, some people can develop histamine intolerance, often due to reduced activity of the enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO), which helps break it down.
People with histamine intolerance may experience symptoms like bloating and headaches after eating high-histamine foods or drinks and may potentially benefit from DAO supplementation.
May Reduce Indigestion in Older Adults
Older adults experience a natural decrease in digestive enzyme production, which can contribute to digestive symptoms, like indigestion.
A 2020 study found that treatment with probiotics and a digestive enzyme blend helped reduce symptoms of indigestion, like abdominal pain and gas.
Who May Benefit From Taking a Digestive Enzyme Supplement
If you’ve been diagnosed with a digestive enzyme deficiency, your healthcare provider will guide your treatment plan, which may include enzyme replacement therapy.
Examples of people who may require digestive enzyme replacement include:
- Those with pancreatic insufficiency from diseases like pancreatic cancer and CF
- People who’ve undergone gastrointestinal surgery, such as pancreatectomy (partial or total removal of the pancreas).
- People with genetic mutations, including CFTR mutations and SPINK1 mutations
There are also some groups who may benefit from digestive enzyme supplements even though they don’t have a true digestive enzyme deficiency, including:
- People with IBS or IBD who are experiencing digestive symptoms, like bloating and gas, after eating
- People with dyspepsia
- Those with non-celiac gluten intolerance
- People with histamine intolerance
People with food sensitivities, such as those who are sensitive to lactose, a sugar found in milk, may also benefit from targeted digestive enzyme supplementation.
While digestive enzyme supplements may benefit some people, it’s important to discuss supplementation with your healthcare provider to ensure it’s the right choice for your specific health needs.
Key Enzymes to Look For in a Supplement
Here’s a helpful guide to the most common enzymes found in digestive enzyme supplements, including what they do and who may benefit from taking them.
| Name | What It Breaks Down | Who It May Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Protease | Proteins | People who have difficulty digesting protein-rich foods |
| Lipase | Fats | People who experience symptoms like nausea after high-fat meals |
| Amylase | Carbohydrates | Those who often feel bloated or gassy after high-carb meals |
| Lactase | Lactose (milk sugar) | People with lactose intolerance |
| Alpha-Galactosidase | Carbohydrates | People who have gas and bloating after high-carb foods, like beans |
| Cellulase | Fiber | Those who struggle to digest high-fiber foods |
How to Choose the Best Digestive Enzyme Supplement
If you’re looking for a comprehensive formula, choose a product that includes a broad range of enzymes, like 1st Phorm Digestive Enzymes, which includes protease, lipase, and lactase, as well as papain and bromelain, two fruit-derived enzymes that break down protein.
While digestive enzymes may be helpful for some people, they don't address the root cause of underlying digestive conditions. If you experience frequent digestive symptoms like gas and bloating, it’s important to see your healthcare provider to rule out any potential health concerns.
When to Take Digestive Enzymes
For most digestive enzyme supplements, it’s recommended to take them shortly before meals, typically within about 15 minutes of eating, so they’re active in your digestive tract when you begin your meal.
Unlike many other supplements, digestive enzymes are generally intended to be taken with each meal and snack throughout the day. Because of this, it's helpful to keep them on hand when you’re on the go, so you don’t miss a dose when eating outside the home.
Conclusion
Digestive enzyme supplements can be a helpful tool for people with specific health conditions or those who experience symptoms like bloating, gas, or discomfort after meals.
If you’re interested in taking a digestive enzyme supplement, it’s best to choose a high-quality product, like 1st Phorm Digestive Enzymes, and incorporate it into a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.
However, if you’re experiencing ongoing digestive issues, it’s important to see your doctor to identify and treat the root cause rather than relying on supplements alone.
If you’re interested in learning more, check out 1st Phorm’s Gut Health supplements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What enzymes should I look for in a digestive enzyme supplement?
It’s helpful to choose a well-rounded digestive enzyme supplement that contains protease, lipase, and lactase for digestive support.
Can I take digestive enzymes every day?
Yes. Digestive enzymes are designed to be taken with every meal.
What's the difference between digestive enzymes and probiotics?
Digestive enzymes are compounds that break down the food you eat into nutrients your body can absorb, while probiotics are beneficial bacteria that support a healthy gut environment. They work through different mechanisms but complement each other well — enzymes optimize what happens before and during digestion, while probiotics support the gut flora that keeps digestion running smoothly over time.
Do digestive enzymes help with bloating?
They may reduce bloating in certain people, such as those with IBS, IBD, and dyspepsia.
Are digestive enzymes safe for long-term use?
Digestive enzyme supplements are generally considered safe, but there’s limited information on the long-term safety of over-the-counter supplements.
