Yes. In most cases, digestive enzymes made from plants and fungi are better for a broad spectrum of uses. These enzymes are shown to be superior because they can survive the stomach’s harsh acidic environment, remaining active throughout the digestive process. Plants produce many of the most common digestive enzymes, such as:
- Proteases – protein breaking enzymes
- Amylases – for breaking down starches and carbohydrates
- Invertases – enzymes that break down sugars
When we talk about “plant enzymes” we are actually talking about the enzymes found in fruits and vegetables such as pineapple, papaya, avocados, honey, or bananas, among others. These enzymes are active when a plant is eaten raw or these digestive enzymes can be harvested scientifically and manufactured into enzyme dietary supplements.
Fungi, or fungal based digestive enzymes, are akin to plants and produce stable digestive and systemic enzymes that have a similar broad pH range and the same survivability throughout the digestive system.
Plant-Based Enzymes – The Best Choice Overall
Once the food we eat passes the mouth and enters the stomach it is subjected to a very harsh, acidic environment. The stomach churns and burns the large food pieces to create a slurry of particles that can more easily pass into the duodenum – the gateway to the small intestine – setting the stage for the next level of digestion and nutrient absorption. The small intestine has three distinct digestive “chambers”, each requiring that food particles be broken down into smaller parts than the chamber before.
“Enzymes derived from plant sources are touted as remaining active over a broader pH range, whereas animal-derived enzymes function in a narrower pH range. This wider pH range may protect plant-based enzymes from being degraded in the acidic environment of the stomach. “
Mayo Clinic
The difference in pH balance between the mouth, stomach, and small intestine is broad, so the more stable an enzyme can remain across a broad pH spectrum, the better and more effective it will be. Enzymes derived from animals have a narrow pH sensitivity. These enzymes will be ineffective when they enter the acidic environment of the stomach and their digestive properties will be less effective. Animal-derived enzymes can be enteric-coated and, in theory, timed to be released in the middle of the digestive process, but as with all supplements the efficacy of the supplement depends on many factors, like:
- Size of the meal
- Type of the food being eaten
- The health of the person using the supplement (how enzyme deficient are they?)
- How much-undigested food remains in the stomach/ intestine between the next meal?
Learn more about enteric coating
So to recap, if you are new to enzyme supplements, find a well-balanced plant-based digestive or systemic enzyme and you can rest assured you are getting the best enzymatic reaction.