Pro-Digestion Intensive by Seeking Health

EFFECTIVE

• Lactose intolerance. Lactase is effective for reducing gastrointestinal symptoms from consuming lactose in lactose intolerant individuals. Details: Multiple clinical trials show that taking lactase orally is effective for reducing GI symptoms in lactose-intolerant people when used before the consumption of lactose or when added to milk prior to consumption (2371,2372,2373,106669).

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

• Colic. It is unclear if oral lactase is beneficial in infants with colic. Details: Preliminary clinical research in infants with colic shows that supplementing human milk or formula with lactase (Crosscare Ltd) for 10 days reduces breath hydrogen levels, but not time spent crying, when compared with placebo. However, approximately 30% of infants in this study were considered to be noncompliant. When only infants considered to be compliant were included in the analysis, time spent crying during the 10-day treatment period was reduced by about 6 hours in the lactase group when compared with placebo (96347). In two other small trials, giving 5 drops of a specific lactase formulation (Colibid, RG Pharmaceutica or Yamoo, Walter Bushnell) to infants aged 0-6 months with colic before each feed, or 4 times a day, for 2-4 weeks significantly reduces crying time and fussing time when compared with placebo (104107,112190). However, measures of crying time were based on subjective parent recall only.
• Prematurity. It is unclear if oral lactase is beneficial in premature patients. Details: Clinical research shows that giving fortified human milk or preterm formula treated with lactase drops (Lactaid, McNeil Consumer Products Company) to preterm infants does not improve weight gain, feeding tolerance, weekly length gain, or gain in head circumference by 36 weeks' gestational age or discharge from the hospital (whichever comes first) when compared with giving untreated milk or formula (96346). More evidence is needed to rate lactase for these uses.

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INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

• Celiac disease. Although there has been interest in using oral lipase for celiac disease, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of lipase for this purpose.
• Dyspepsia. It is unclear if oral lipase is beneficial for improving symptoms of postprandial distress syndrome. Details: A small clinical trial shows that taking a specific acid-resistant lipase (Amano Enzyme USA) 280 mg immediately before a high-fat meal does not reduce postprandial bloating and nausea when compared with placebo in individuals with postprandial distress syndrome (101900).
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although there has been interest in using oral lipase for IBD, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of lipase for this purpose.
• Prematurity. It is unclear if adding a specific form of lipase, recombinant human bile salt-stimulated lipase (rhBSSL), to infant formula improves outcomes in premature infants. Some research suggests a potential increased risk for adverse effects. Details: Human breast milk contains rhBSSL, but it is inactivated when breast milk is pasteurized for donation. Clinical research in infants born before 32 weeks' gestation shows that adding rhBSSL as 8700 units per 100 mL formula or pasteurized breast milk, for 4 weeks does not increase growth velocity, body length, or head circumference over the next 12 months when compared with formula or pasteurized breast milk devoid of lipase. However, the infants who were small for gestational age (SGA), which made up approximately 15% of the study population, grew by an additional 1.9 grams/kg daily on average when compared with placebo (101940). More evidence is needed to rate lipase for these uses.

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INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

• Aging skin. In patients with deep wrinkles, preliminary clinical research shows that taking zinc citrate 50 mg and phytase 3,000 units daily for four days prior to a botulinum toxin treatment increases the patient-reported duration of botulinum toxin effects by approximately 25%, compared with no improvement in patients taking zinc gluconate 10 mg or placebo. The efficacy of botulinum treatment was also improved (101913). Whether this reported benefit is due to the dose or form of zinc, citrate, phytase, the combination, or other factors, is unclear (101913,101914).
• Blepharospasm. In patients with blepharospasm, preliminary clinical research shows that taking zinc citrate 50 mg and phytase 3,000 units daily for four days prior to a botulinum toxin treatment increases the patient-reported duration of botulinum toxin effects by approximately 25%, compared with no improvement in patients taking zinc gluconate 10 mg or placebo. The efficacy of botulinum treatment was also improved (101913). Whether this reported benefit is due to the dose or form of zinc, citrate, phytase, the combination, or other factors, is unclear (101913,101914).
• Child growth. Clinical research in infants consuming a corn-based diet shows that taking a fat- and micronutrient-based food supplement containing phytase, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), arachidonic acid, and lysine increases linear growth at age 8 and 10 months and improves locomotor development when compared with not taking this supplement. In contrast, a similar fat- and micronutrient-based supplement without phytase, DHA, arachidonic acid, and lysine does not improve these indices when compared with not taking a supplement. The phytase-containing supplement did not affect linear growth, weight for age, or hand-eye coordination at 12 months (101902). These reported benefits to child growth are likely to be due to the combination of provided essential and non-essential nutrients. Any role of phytase is expected to be minimal.
• Iron deficiency anemia. Taking phytase with a meal containing phytate and iron increases iron absorption (101903,101904,101906). However, the effect of phytase specifically for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia remains unclear (101902). Phytase is sometimes added to the diet to increase the absorption of iron from food. In a small study of women, some with iron deficiency anemia, incubating wheat as a source of phytase with a traditional grain high in phytate increased iron absorption from the meal to 8.3% from 2.6% (101904). Also, adding microbial phytase to whole wheat rolls containing phytate increases iron absorption from a meal by approximately 82% when compared with rolls without added phytase (101906). In another small study, the addition of a microbial phytase to a single corn meal with added micronutrients increases iron absorption and incorporation into red blood cells after 14 days by 1.85-fold when compared with the meal without added phytase (101903). However, consuming white wheat rolls with added wheat bran as a source of phytase does not increase iron absorption from the meal when compared to consuming rolls with added wheat bran with deactivated phytase (101906). The use of phytase as treatment for iron deficiency, with or without anemia, has rarely been investigated. However, clinical research in infants consuming a corn-based diet shows that taking a fat- and micronutrient-based food supplement containing phytase, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), arachidonic acid, and lysine for 6 months does not seem to be more effective for reducing anemia than taking the food supplement without phytase (101902).
• Zinc deficiency. Preliminary clinical research shows that adding phytase 20.5 units to a millet-based porridge with added zinc immediately prior to consumption increases zinc absorption by approximately 68% in children aged 12-24 months (101911). Some of these children had low plasma levels of zinc at baseline. However, the use of phytase specifically for the treatment of zinc deficiency has not been investigated. More evidence is needed to rate phytase for these uses.

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Proteolytic enzymes represent a wide group of enzymes that are used alone or in combination. See specific monographs for effectiveness information.

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INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

• Asthma. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for asthma, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Atherosclerosis. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for atherosclerosis, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Back pain. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for back pain, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Bronchiectasis. It is unclear if oral serrapeptase is beneficial in patients with bronchiectasis. Details: A small clinical study in patients with bronchiectasis shows that taking serrapeptase 30 mg orally daily for 4 weeks significantly reduces frequency of cough and also seems to decrease sputum viscosity and neutrophil counts in sputum samples when compared with no treatment (13153).
• Cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for CVD, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for carpal tunnel syndrome, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Chronic bronchitis. It is unclear if oral serrapeptase is beneficial in patients with chronic bronchitis. Details: A small clinical study in patients with chronic bronchitis shows that taking serrapeptase 30 mg orally daily for 4 weeks significantly reduces frequency of cough and expectoration and also seems to decrease sputum viscosity and neutrophil counts in sputum samples when compared with no treatment (13153).
• Diabetes. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for diabetes, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Fibromyalgia. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for fibromyalgia, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Fibrocystic breast disease. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for fibrocystic breast disease, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for IBD, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Laryngitis. It is unclear if oral serrapeptase is beneficial in patients with laryngitis. Details: A clinical study in patients with acute or chronic ear, nose, or throat disorders, including laryngitis, shows that taking serrapeptase 10 mg orally three times daily reduces pain, secretions, difficulty swallowing, and body temperature after 3-4 days of treatment when compared with placebo (13152).
• Migraine headache. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for migraine headache, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Osteoarthritis. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for osteoarthritis, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Osteoporosis. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for osteoporosis, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Otitis media. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for otitis media, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Pharyngitis. It is unclear if oral serrapeptase is beneficial in patients with pharyngitis. Details: A clinical study in patients with acute or chronic ear, nose, or throat disorders, including pharyngitis, shows that taking serrapeptase 10 mg orally three times daily reduces pain, secretions, difficulty swallowing, and body temperature after 3-4 days of treatment when compared with placebo (13152).
• Postoperative swelling. It is unclear if oral serrapeptase is beneficial in patients with postoperative swelling. Details: Serrapeptase has been evaluated for reducing facial swelling after a variety of procedures. A clinical study in patients undergoing maxillary antrostomy for empyema shows that taking serrapeptase 10 mg orally three times on the day before surgery, once in the evening after surgery, and three times daily for 5 days after surgery modestly reduces buccal swelling when compared with placebo (13151). In patients requiring removal of impacted mandibular third molars, a small clinical study in healthy adults shows that taking serrapeptase 10 mg orally three times daily for 5 days improves postoperative trismus and swelling, but not pain scores, by the fourth postoperative day when compared with placebo (106013). The validity of these findings in limited by a lack of consistent comparison to baseline in both groups. Conversely, two other small studies in patients requiring removal of impacted mandibular third molars show that serrapeptase is less effective than dexamethasone or another proteolytic enzyme, consisting of trypsin, bromelain, and the flavonoid rutin, for improving swelling or facilitating wound healing (106011,106012). The validity of these findings is limited due to poor study methodologies.
• Rhinosinusitis. It is unclear if oral serrapeptase is beneficial in patients with rhinosinusitis. Details: A clinical study in patients with acute or chronic ear, nose, or throat disorders, including rhinosinusitis, shows that taking serrapeptase 10 mg orally three times daily reduces pain, nasal secretions, nasal obstruction, and anosmia after 3-4 days of treatment when compared with placebo (13152).
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for RA, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Tension headache. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for tension headache, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose.
• Venous leg ulcers. Although there has been interest in using oral serrapeptase for venous leg ulcers, there is insufficient reliable information about the clinical effects of serrapeptase for this purpose. More evidence is needed to rate serrapeptase for these uses.

(Read more about SERRAPEPTASE)

LIKELY SAFE ...when used orally and appropriately with lactose-containing foods. Lactase has Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status in the US when prepared from Candida pseudotropicalis or Kluyveromyces lactis (104108,104109). Lactase has been used safely in doses up to 9900 international units (IU) and up to 13,500 food chemical codex (FCC) units (2371,2372,2373,106669).

CHILDREN: LIKELY SAFE
when used orally and appropriately with lactose-containing foods.

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION: LIKELY SAFE
when used orally and appropriately with lactose-containing foods.

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There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of lipase.

CHILDREN: POSSIBLY UNSAFE
when recombinant human bile salt-stimulated lipase (rhBSSL) is used orally by premature infants. Adding rhBSSL to infant formula or pasteurized breast milk increases the risk for serious gastrointestinal adverse effects in premature infants (101940).

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

(Read more about LIPASE)

LIKELY SAFE ...when consumed in the amounts commonly found in foods. There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of phytase when used orally as a supplement.

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information is available; avoid using.

(Read more about PHYTASE)

POSSIBLY SAFE ...when used orally and appropriately. Various proteolytic enzymes have been safely used orally in clinical research (716,964,965,968,969,6252,6253,10622,11457,18281,18284) (91104,91105,91106,91111,96449). Side effects are typically mild to moderate and most often include gastrointestinal effects. See specific monographs for more detailed information related to the safety of individual proteolytic enzymes. ...when used topically and appropriately. Various proteolytic enzymes have been safely used topically in clinical research (67835,67843,67845,91113). Some proteolytic enzymes might cause allergic reactions when used topically. See specific monographs for more detailed information related to the safety of individual proteolytic enzymes.

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

(Read more about PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES (PROTEASES))

POSSIBLY SAFE ...when used orally and appropriately, short-term. Serrapeptase seems to be safe when used in clinical trials lasting up to 4 weeks (13151,13152,13153). There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of serrapeptase when used long-term.

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION:
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

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ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS Interaction Rating = Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Severity = High •  Occurrence = Possible •  Level of Evidence = D Theoretically, taking serrapeptase with drugs that have antiplatelet or anticoagulant effects might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.  Details In vitro research shows that serrapeptase has fibrinolytic activity (13151,13152).

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General ...Orally, lactase is generally well tolerated.

Immunologic ...A case of lactase-induced contact dermatitis and immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergic rhinoconjunctivitis has been reported in a worker exposed to powdered lactase. Allergy to lactase was confirmed by prick test, open application test, and chamber challenge test (96348).

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General ...No adverse effects have been reported in adults. However, a thorough evaluation of safety outcomes has not been conducted.
Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):
Orally: Gastrointestinal adverse effects, such as necrotizing enterocolitis, when recombinant human bile salt-stimulated lipase is used in premature infants.

Gastrointestinal ...Orally, when added to the formula or pasteurized breast milk consumed by premature infants, recombinant human bile salt-stimulated lipase (rhBSSL) can cause gastrointestinal adverse effects, including abdominal distension, flatulence, constipation, colic, abdominal pain, gastroenteritis, vomiting, regurgitation, and rectal bleeding (101940). Premature infants receiving rhBSSL also had a slightly higher rate of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) when compared with those receiving placebo. After review by a panel of experts, it was determined that the rate of confirmed or suspected NEC in infants consuming rhBSSL was 3.3%, compared with 0.5% in those receiving placebo. Although this rate of NEC is lower than the historical rate of occurrence in premature infants (11%), a possible increased risk for NEC cannot be ruled out (101940).

(Read more about LIPASE)

General ...Orally, no adverse effects have been reported. However, a thorough evaluation of safety outcomes has not been conducted. Workplace immunological responses to airborne powdered phytase have been reported (101901,101908,101909,101910).

Immunologic ...There are numerous reports of immunologic responses to airborne powdered phytase in the animal-feed industry (101901,101908,101909,101910). Examples of reactions include allergic occupational asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (101901,101908). In one case report of a 43-year-old male, hypersensitivity pneumonitis related to phytase was diagnosed following a 6-month history of coughing, shortness of breath, fever, and dyspnea (101908). In an analysis of 53 people occupationally exposed to phytase, 28% had IgE antibodies and 45% had IgG antibodies specific to phytase. Symptoms included dyspnea, rhinitis, and eye and skin reactions (101909). In another analysis of patients with IgE-mediated occupational respiratory allergy, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, cough, and asthmatic symptoms were reported (101910).

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General ...Orally, proteolytic enzymes are generally well tolerated. See specific monographs for detailed safety information related to individual proteolytic enzymes.
Most Common Adverse Effects:
Orally: Gastrointestinal upset.
Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):
Topically: Allergic reactions.

Gastrointestinal ...Orally, some patients taking proteolytic enzymes may have gastrointestinal complaints (101517).

Immunologic ...Proteolytic enzymes are commonly found in laundry detergents and pre-spotter products. Rarely, protease specific IgE positive tests possibly related to these products have occurred. Exposure may be airborne or topical (102705). In addition, in case reports, occupational exposure to the airborne proteolytic enzyme pepsin has resulted in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis or asthma (102706,102707).

(Read more about PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES (PROTEASES))

General ...Orally, serrapeptase seems to be well-tolerated.
Most Common Adverse Effects:
Orally: Epigastric pain, gastrointestinal upset, nausea.
Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):
Orally: Bullous pemphigoid

Gastrointestinal ...Orally, some patients have reported experiencing epigastric pain, gastrointestinal upset, and nausea; however, these side effects appear to occur at the same rate as placebo (13152).

Immunologic ...There is a case report of bullous pemphigoid, an autoimmune subepidermal dermatosis, in an elderly man who took serrapeptase (13154).

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