Digestive enzymes are a blend of proteases, amylases and lipases which may be used to help improve digestion and absorption of nutrients within in the digestive tract. According to studies, there are a number of health conditions that may benefit from enzyme supplementation including chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, autism spectrum disorders and diabetes, all of which contribute to pancreatic insufficiency. When there is an enzymatic imbalance that goes untreated, malnutrition may eventually develop due to malabsorption of nutrients. One study has identified that pancreatic insufficiency is prevalent 30-40% of chronic pancreatitis and 80-90% of cystic fibrosis cases. (Fieker, Philpott, & Armand, 2011), thereby necessitating the use of oral pancreatic enzyme therapy, a treatment that has been successfully used for decades. More recently, there have been a number of products marketed to help break down the gliaden protein for those with Celiac and other gluten sensitivities. A 2015 study tested the efficacy of this enzyme therapy for breaking down gluten molecules. Results indicated that current products on the market were not effective in degrading gliaden and would not be an efficacious treatment for celiac disease. (Janssen et al., 2015) In 2015, Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience published a study showing possible benefit for children with autism spectrum disorder in managing symptoms of the disorder. Gastrointestinal conditions such as diarrhea, gas, bloating, dysbiosis, etc. have all been identified as common imbalances in children with ASD, and while no studies have been able to confirm or directly correlate digestive disorders to the onset of autism, there is growing evidence that there is a strong gut-brain connection. In this study, digestive enzymes were given to children for 3 months with significant improvement in behavior and GI symptoms. (Saad et al., 2015) Digestive enzymes are gaining more recognition for their role in managing several conditions. Animal derived enzymes have been the predominant form, however there is growing research offering evidence that newer plant-derived blends may provide equal benefit. (Ianiro, Pecere, Giorgio, Gasbarrini, & Cammarota, 2016) Digestive enzymes aren't for everyone, but they can be an easy starting point for those who experience symptoms of gas, bloating, nausea or diarrhea after eating. If the enzymes aren't doing the trick, the problem may be more complex than insufficient production of enzymes in your gut and it may be time to consult your healthcare practitioner for additional guidance. References: Fieker, A., Philpott, J., & Armand, M. (2011). Enzyme replacement therapy for pancreatic insufficiency: present and future. Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology, 4, 55–73. https://doi.org/10.2147/CEG.S17634 Ianiro, G., Pecere, S., Giorgio, V., Gasbarrini, A., & Cammarota, G. (2016). Digestive Enzyme Supplementation in Gastrointestinal Diseases. Current Drug Metabolism, 17(2), 187–193. https://doi.org/10.2174/138920021702160114150137 Ianiro, G., Pecere, S., Giorgio, V., Gasbarrini, A., & Cammarota, G. (2016). Digestive Enzyme Supplementation in Gastrointestinal Diseases. Current Drug Metabolism, 17(2), 187–193. https://doi.org/10.2174/138920021702160114150137 Janssen, G., Christis, C., Kooy-Winkelaar, Y., Edens, L., Smith, D., van Veelen, P., & Koning, F. (2015). Ineffective Degradation of Immunogenic Gluten Epitopes by Currently Available Digestive Enzyme Supplements. PLoS ONE, 10(6). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128065 Saad, K., Eltayeb, A. A., Mohamad, I. L., Al-Atram, A. A., Elserogy, Y., Bjørklund, G., … Nicholson, B. (2015). A Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial of Digestive Enzymes in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience, 13(2), 188–193. https://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.2015.13.2.188