Home Ingredients Digesten® (Digestive Enzyme Blend)
Gut Health

Digesten® (Digestive Enzyme Blend)

Evidence Level
Preliminary
0 Clinical Trials
3 Documented Benefits
1/5 Evidence Score

Digesten® is a digestive enzyme blend combining enzymes such as protease, amylase, and lipase to support the breakdown of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. It is taken with meals to support more complete, comfortable digestion. There are no published clinical trials of this specific blend. The two studies cited on this page tested prescription-strength pancreatic enzyme therapy in people diagnosed with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, which is a different product used for a different medical reason.

Studied Dose Taken with meals; dose varies by product. No dose of this blend has been studied. The cited trials used prescription-strength, enterically coated pancrelipase dosed in tens of thousands of lipase units per meal, which is far beyond what a consumer enzyme capsule provides.
Active Compound Blend of digestive enzymes (protease, amylase, lipase, and others).

Benefits

Digestive support

Protease, amylase and lipase break down protein, starch and fat, which is basic biochemistry rather than a tested product claim. The clinical evidence cited here comes from prescription-strength pancreatic enzyme therapy studied in people diagnosed with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, where it improved fat absorption compared with placebo. Whether an over-the-counter enzyme capsule makes a noticeable difference in people whose pancreas works normally has not been tested.

Comfort after meals

Some people take enzymes hoping to ease bloating or heaviness after large or rich meals. Neither study cited on this page measured bloating, fullness or after-meal comfort, and neither was done in healthy people, so this is a common reason for use rather than a proven effect.

Limited-evidence note

Digestive enzymes have a clear mechanistic role, but there are no published clinical trials of this specific blend at all. The two references on this page tested prescription pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in a diagnosed disease, so they cannot show what this consumer product does.

Mechanism of action

1

Macronutrient breakdown

Protease breaks down protein, lipase breaks down fat, and amylase breaks down starch. This is textbook digestive chemistry and it explains what the enzymes do, not what taking extra of them achieves in someone who already digests food normally.

2

Better nutrient release

In people with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, prescription enzyme therapy improved fat digestion and absorption in randomized trials. In people whose own pancreas produces normal enzyme levels, added enzymes have not been shown to improve nutrient absorption.

Clinical trials

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well-tolerated.
Mild digestive upset can occur.
Those with allergies to enzyme sources (such as fungal or fruit enzymes) should check the label.

Important Drug interactions

Anticoagulants — proteolytic enzymes may have a mild additive effect; monitor.
Diabetes medication — monitor if used between meals.
See a doctor rather than reaching for a supplement if you have persistent greasy or floating stools, unexplained weight loss, or a suspected pancreatic problem. Those need medical assessment, and prescription pancreatic enzyme therapy is a separate treatment.

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Frequently asked questions about Digesten® (Digestive Enzyme Blend)

What is Digesten?

Digesten® is a digestive enzyme blend combining enzymes such as protease, amylase, and lipase to support the breakdown of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. It is taken with meals to support more complete, comfortable digestion. There are no published clinical trials of this specific blend.

What is Digesten used for?

Digesten is researched primarily for Gut Health. Protease, amylase and lipase break down protein, starch and fat, which is basic biochemistry rather than a tested product claim.

What is the recommended dosage of Digesten?

The clinically studied dose is Taken with meals; dose varies by product. No dose of this blend has been studied. The cited trials used prescription-strength, enterically coated pancrelipase dosed in tens of thousands of lipase units per meal, which is far beyond what a consumer enzyme capsu… Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Digesten safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, Digesten is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well-tolerated. Mild digestive upset can occur. It may also interact with some medications. Digesten is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Digesten interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Anticoagulants — proteolytic enzymes may have a mild additive effect; monitor. Diabetes medication — monitor if used between meals. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Digesten?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Digesten as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 2 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(2 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Taylor JR et al. Systematic review: efficacy and safety of pancreatic enzyme supplements for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2010;31(1):57-72. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2009.04157.x.PubMedUsed to support: Systematic review of 12 randomized trials of prescription pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in patients diagnosed with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, a serious condition arising from chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis or pancreatic surgery. In that patient group the therapy beat placebo for fat absorption and fatty stools. This is not a study of Digesten or of any consumer enzyme capsule, and it does not show a benefit in people with normal pancreatic function.
  2. Domínguez-Muñoz JE et al. Effect of the administration schedule on the therapeutic efficacy of oral pancreatic enzyme supplements in patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency: a randomized, three-way crossover study Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2005;21(8):993-1000. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2005.02390.x.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized three-way crossover trial in patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency comparing when to take prescription oral pancreatic enzyme therapy. Taking it with meals improved fat digestion on breath testing more than other schedules. It studied the dosing schedule of a prescription therapy in diagnosed disease, not the Digesten blend, and it did not measure after-meal comfort or bloating.