Science Marches On III: Systemic Enzymes

The lactase enzyme digests the milk sugar lactose. Most humans stop or reduce their manufacture of lactase at some point in their lives, creating the condition we call lactose intolerance when those of us lactase-challenged have dairy.

Fortunately, the lactase enzyme is fairly easy to manufacture artificially. (Or naturally, depending on how you look at it, since live yeasts are used to grow it.)

Similar products like Beano can be used on other hard-to-digest sugars.

Now the medical world is realizing that a whole range of body ailments can be helped through targeted enzymes.

Erika Camardella reports on NaturalProductsInsider.com about some of these discoveries:

Enzyme use goes well beyond dissolving digestive dilemmas. Nena Dockery, M.S., National Enzyme Co., noted within the dietary supplement industry, isolation of new enzymatic activities from natural, non-genetically modified sources has led to new opportunities for their use. “More is being researched in the area of systemic functioning of orally administered enzymes,” she said. “The recently discovered fact that low-grade inflammation may be indirectly related to a large number of chronic disease conditions has uncovered a large area of future enzyme development.”

Mike Smith, sales and marketing manager at Specialty Enzymes, said the two common areas for systemic enzyme use are as an anti-inflammatory and fibrinolytic.

“Serratiopeptidase and nattokinase are two newer enzymes that possess both properties,” he said, “and it is likely that research will yield more of these novel enzymes with systemic applications as interest and understanding continue to advance.” For example, ERC created one systemic blend utilizing enzymes (along with 14 different strains of probiotic bacteria) to create its Nightly Essense™ product.

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Size aside, enzymes are no small players. The list of possible conditions they could affect continues as they may also assist with gluten intolerance, noted Jim Titus, director of international sales and marketing, Deerland Enzymes. “While enzymes for autism have made great strides over the last number of years, there is some information coming out indicating enzymes (as AN-PEP) have application for Celiac Disease as well,” he said With applications in nutritional formulas, tablets, capsules and blends, Panc-Zyme™ (American Laboratories Inc.) has many naturally occurring enzymes; but, it specifically contains trypsin and chymotrypsin protease, amylase and lipase, and can be used in formulations to hydrolyze proteins in milk, meat and cheeses.

And you knew I was going to get nanotech in here somewhere:

There are several new delivery system technologies on the horizon, but are not practical for use within the dietary supplement industry because of cost constraints, Dockery said, citing nanotechnology-based systems as an example. Another technology being utilized to a limited extent for delivery of supplements containing enzymes involves specialized liquid media within a softgel type capsule or liquid product. However, Dockery cautioned, “The enzymes must be protected in some way from being activated by the liquid, either by coating the enzyme or by manipulating the structure of the liquid itself to prevent interaction with the enzymes.”

Sooner or later, nanotechnology will be the preferred way to get exactly the right medicine to exactly the right part of the body. Pills, capsules, inhalers, even injections can't do it as well. Smaller is better.