Enzymes are one of the more interesting things in a supplement cupboard and one of the least well explained. Here is the plain version.
What an enzyme is
An enzyme is a protein that makes a specific chemical reaction happen faster. It is a catalyst — it does the work and comes out unchanged at the end, ready to do it again.
Enzymes are highly specific. One acts on starch and will do nothing at all to fat. That specificity is why enzyme supplements contain several different types rather than one, and why each is measured in its own activity unit rather than by weight.
The three main families
Amylase — acts on starch
Amylase breaks starch down into simpler sugars. It is the enzyme in human saliva, which is why a piece of bread held in the mouth starts to taste faintly sweet.
Protease — acts on protein
Protease breaks proteins into shorter chains and individual amino acids. There are many different proteases, and they differ in the conditions they prefer — some work best in the acidic stomach, others in the more neutral small intestine.
This is why a good enzyme formula contains more than one. Ours has three, each active over a different part of the pH range.
Lipase — acts on fat
Lipase breaks fats down into fatty acids and glycerol. Fat is the most structurally awkward part of a meal, which is why lipase is the enzyme most often included at low levels or left out entirely by cheaper formulas.
Where supplement enzymes come from
This is the distinction most worth knowing, and it is rarely explained.
Animal-derived
Pancreatin is the traditional source — extracted from the pancreas of pigs or cattle. It has a long history of use and is still common.
Two practical consequences: it is unsuitable for vegetarians and vegans, and it is pH sensitive. Pancreatic enzymes evolved to work in the small intestine, which is why animal-derived products are often enteric-coated to get them past the stomach.
Plant and fungal-derived
The modern alternative. Amylase, protease and lipase can be produced by fermentation using fungal cultures, and bromelain and papain come directly from fruit — pineapple and papaya respectively.
The practical advantage is pH range. Fungal and plant enzymes are generally active across a wider span of acidity than pancreatic ones, so they can begin working earlier in the digestive process without needing a coating. They are also suitable for vegans, which pancreatin is not.
Ours are plant and fungal throughout — which is why the label says vegan, and why bromelain and papain are on it.
Betaine hydrochloride, and why it turns up here
Betaine hydrochloride is not an enzyme. It is an acidic salt form of betaine, a compound found naturally in beetroot and wheat, and it appears on many enzyme labels because proteases generally prefer acidic conditions.
Because it is acidic, there is one firm rule: do not take a product containing betaine hydrochloride if peptic ulcers are present. That warning is on our label and should be on any product that contains it.
A well-made label states two figures — the weight of betaine hydrochloride and the amount of betaine it provides. Ours gives 145mg providing 110.58mg, because those are different numbers and the difference matters when comparing.
Why the botanicals are there
Most enzyme formulas include herbs alongside the enzymes. Ours has eight: turmeric, alfalfa, apple cider vinegar, caraway seed, chamomile flower, fennel seed, ginger root and peppermint leaf.
These are long-standing culinary ingredients — fennel, caraway and peppermint have been eaten after meals across Europe and Asia for centuries, which is why they turn up in this category. They carry no authorised health claims in Great Britain, so what a seller may honestly give you is the name and the weight. Ours declares all eight individually rather than grouping them into a blend.
The instruction people get wrong
Enzyme supplements are taken with the meal, not before it. That is what our label specifies and what the format is designed around — 1 or 2 capsules with each main meal.
It follows from what enzymes are: they act on food, so they need to arrive with the food. Taking one on an empty stomach half an hour beforehand is a common mistake and misses the point of the format.
Where to go next
If you are comparing products, the one check that matters most is activity units rather than milligrams, and our honest buyer's guide sets out the full list.
Ours is Plant-Based Digestive Enzymes — seven enzyme preparations each declared with its activity units, betaine hydrochloride, and eight botanicals at stated weights. 90 capsules, £24.99, vegan, made in the UK.
Do not take this product if peptic ulcers are present. Contains bromelain (from pineapple) and papain (from papaya). Always read the label. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
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