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  • F.A.Q: Digestive Enzyme Questions

    General questions relating to the application and use of supplemental digestive enzymes

    2. We have a grandchild with Cystic Fibrosis. Enzymes are a required supplement.They are Lipase, Amylase, and Protease. Very expensive.We arelooking into possibility of natural types.How does USP Units compare with mg.? Thank You. - Top

    NOTE: THIS QUESTION WAS PRESENTED TO US AND THE PERRSON'S E-MAIL ADDRESS WAS UNDELIVERABLE WHEN WE TRIED TO RESPOND DIRECTLY. IF THE PERSON NAMED MARK THAT ASK THIS QUESTION GETS THIS WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HE GOT IT. THANKS.



    There are many facets to your question. The only way to correctly measure
    the digestive enzymes is by their activity level and pH range where they
    remain active. Measurement of digestive enzymes in mg. units makes no
    sense, though we still see some companies do this. Mg. is a measure of
    weight. You could have a high mg. amount, but if you don't know how much
    enzymatic activity there is per milligram, then you really know nothing.

    Furthermore, there are primarily two major classes of digestive enzymes on
    the market: animal derived and fungal derived (often called plant based).
    The animal derived are normally pancreatin which is made from the pancreas
    of slaughterhouse animals. The plant based are grown under laboratory
    conditions on Aspergillus Oryzae. These enzymes are then extracted,
    filtered and highly purified.

    The recognized unit of measurement for pancreatin is USP which is a measure
    of activity. The recognized activity unit of measurement for the plant
    based enzymes are: HUT for protease, DU for Amylase, and LU for Lipase.
    Milligrams don't fit or make sense in either of these measurement systems.

    The pH range where the enzymes remain active is as important as the amount
    of activity (strength). The plant based enzymes, for example, that our
    company deals with have shown to be active over a pH range of 3 to 9 which
    allows them to survive the wide pH range of the gastric environment they
    will be subject to when taken orally. Pancreatin does not have such a wide
    range and is often enterically coated to protect it. It is our opinion that
    the plant based enzymes are more active throughout the digestive system
    than are the animal based one.

    To summarize, for maximum benefit, you want to select high quality, high
    activity, pH balanced digestive enzymes. Unit measurement of digestive
    enzymes in milligrams doesn't make sense. There are some rule of thumb
    conversions factors we sometimes use to compare the relative activity of
    pancreatin to fungal based enzymes. These are:

    1 HUT = approx. 6.5 USP (Protease)
    1 DU = approx. 48 USP (Amylase)
    1 LU = approx. __ USP (Lipase) [I'm sorry I could not readily find
    this one]

    The purpose of this was to give you information as you ask. I will now make
    a very brief sales pitch.

    I would suggest that you look through our web site at the three primary
    products you are seeking: Proteases [our product name for highly purified
    proteases is PureZyme]; Amylase [contained in OxiCellZyme and DigestZyme];
    and Lipase [our product LypoZyme]. If you are seeking purity, pH balanced,
    as well as the highest acitivity for your money, I am hard pressed to
    believe you will find any to compare. All of the info, activity levels,
    etc. of our products are on the web site. You can compare this to others.

    If your grandson is/will be taking digestive enzymes on an ongoing basis
    then you should also look at the value you can receive from the E-Club
    program. It also gives you the membership discounts on "add on" digestive
    enzyme products.

    Please understand, while we are aware of the use of digestive enzymes in
    the treatment of cystic fibrosis, we are not making any claims with respect
    to digestive enzymes for your grandson's specific condition since we have
    no facts on which to base any opinion. We do know that the quality of our
    digestive enzymes are very high, pH balanced, and a very good value.

    I hope this information is of use to you. Good luck.


    Copyright 2000

    Property of Transformation Enzyme, Corp.and Enzyme Essentials, LLC All Rights Reserved.

    This Information is provided by Enzyme Essentials, LLC.

    To get a comprehensive, yet layman's, explanation of how the lack of adequate digestive enzymes affect your health, wellness, and longevity, take The Digestive Enzyme Tour.

    For a review of high activity, pharmaceutical quality, pH balanced, enzymes, see:
    Enzyme Profiles From Enzyme Essentials.

    To have your monthly supply of digestive enzymes delivered to your door each month at discount prices, you can join The E-Club.

    You can have this and other articles automatically e-mailed to you by clicking on "E-mail Me The FAQs" below.

    - Updated: April 11, 2000

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