Digestion

Digestive supplements: enzymes, fibers and bacterial cultures

Digestion is the process in which food is broken down into substances that the body can absorb. Enzymes, fibers and the bacteria in the intestines play a role in this. For a few substances, an effect has been officially established: lactase enzyme improves the digestion of lactose in people who have difficulty digesting lactose, and inulin from chicory contributes to normal bowel function by increasing the frequency of bowel movements.

In our range you will find lactase from LUTO Supplements and Vit4ever, bromelain and papain, enzyme complexes from NOW Foods, Swanson, Osavi and German Elite Nutrition, beta-hydroxybutyrate HCl, psyllium fibers and inulin, bacterial cultures from Vit4ever, Swanson and Osavi, sodium butyrate and herbal formulas from Himalaya, Swanson and Vit4ever.

Lactase

Lactase is the enzyme that splits lactose, the sugar in milk, into glucose and galactose. Lactase enzyme improves the digestion of lactose in people who have difficulty digesting lactose. This effect is achieved by taking at least 4500 FCC units with each meal containing lactose. FCC is the unit in which the activity of lactase is expressed. In this collection you will find lactase from 5,000 to 22,000 FCC per tablet, also as a sustained-release tablet. Lactose tolerance varies from person to person; if in doubt, ask for advice about the role of lactose in your diet.

Bromelain, papain and enzyme complexes

Bromelain is a protein-splitting enzyme from the stem and fruit of the pineapple, papain comes from papaya. The activity of bromelain is expressed in F.I.P. or GDU units; in this collection you will find, among others, 2,000, 4,500 and 7,500 F.I.P. Enzyme complexes combine several enzymes, such as amylase, protease and lipase, sometimes with plant extracts. Examples are Super Enzymes and Digest Ultimate from NOW Foods, Digestive Essentials from Swanson and Enzyme Complex with DigeZyme from German Elite Nutrition. Beta-hydroxybutyrate HCl is often combined with pepsin. There are no approved health claims for these enzymes.

Dietary fibers: psyllium and inulin

Psyllium is the seed husk of Plantago ovata, a species of plantain. It is a soluble fiber that swells in water; you can find it as a powder from Vit4ever and in capsules from Swanson. Inulin is a soluble fiber that in this collection comes from chicory root. Inulin from chicory contributes to normal bowel function by increasing the frequency of bowel movements; this effect is achieved with a daily intake of 12 grams of inulin from chicory. Gradually increase the amount of fiber and drink plenty of water.

Bacterial cultures

Supplements with bacterial cultures contain live lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria. The amount is expressed in KVE (colony-forming units) or CFU, and the number of strains varies per product. In this collection you will find, among others, Probio 20 and Probio 25 with inulin from Vit4ever, a formula with 16 strains from Swanson and combinations with digestive enzymes from Swanson and Osavi. Pay attention to the storage instructions on the packaging, as they may differ per product. There are no approved health claims for bacterial cultures in the EU.

Herbs and plant extracts

This collection also contains herbal formulas. Artichoke extract is obtained from the leaves of the artichoke, milk thistle and dandelion are often combined with artichoke. Triphala is a mixture of three dried fruits (amla, haritaki and bibhitaki) from the Ayurvedic tradition, available from Vit4ever, Swanson and Himalaya. Gasex from Himalaya is an Ayurvedic herbal formula in tablet form. There are (yet) no approved health claims for these herbs in the EU, therefore we only describe what they are.

Sodium butyrate, DAO and greens

Sodium butyrate is the sodium salt of butyric acid, a short-chain fatty acid that is naturally found in butter. Osavi offers it in sustained-release (SR) capsules. DAO stands for diamine oxidase, an enzyme that Vit4ever offers in capsules of 300,000 HDU. Gastro Comfort from NOW Foods contains PepZin GI, a compound of zinc and L-carnosine. In addition, you will find greens powders here such as Super Greens from LUTO Supplements and Green Juice from Vit4ever, which combine vegetables, fruit and plant extracts.

What to pay attention to when choosing?

Compare the activity or amount per serving: FCC for lactase, F.I.P. or GDU for bromelain, KVE for bacterial cultures and grams for fibers. Digestive enzymes are usually taken with or just before a meal; follow the directions for use on the packaging. Stick to the recommended daily dosage. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or using medications, consult your doctor or pharmacist first. If you have persistent digestive complaints, contact your general practitioner.