FEEL-20 Total Digest Supplement Fact Box

Background

Millions of people worldwide suffer from heartburn and gastrointestinal discomfort, which can result from stress, eating too much, and/or eating too fast. Symptoms can include burning and pressure, or pain in the chest and or throat area. Many people treat this condition through the use of antacids. Antacids function by neutralizing stomach acid, which raises the pH of the stomach. Antacid products are very popular because they generally are able to provide relief quite quickly. Calcium carbonate, which is the antacid chosen for this formula, is a naturally occurring mineral that is commonly used to neutralize stomach acid.

Though stomach acid can cause significant discomfort, it is also very important for digestion. The acidity of the stomach must reach a sufficiently low pH in order for pepsinogen to be converted to its active form, which is the proteolytic enzyme pepsin. Disrupting the low pH environment of the stomach may actually exacerbate pancreatic insufficiency, which is one of the potential underlying conditions that can contribute to indigestion. In order to compensate for this potential problem, a proprietary blend of digestive enzymes was added to support normal digestion, which enhances the functionality of this product.

Digest Soothe includes a special blend of digestive enzymes that is designed specifically to support digestion. It is a proprietary blend of proteolytic, lipolytic, and carbohydrolytic enzymes to aid in the digestion of nutrient dense meals. Enzyme supplementation can be critical in handling the increased digestive demands placed on the body by our modern diets. Supplemental enzymes also help ensure that the maximum amount of available nutrition is obtained from the food eaten. Supplemental enzymes are used to replace the enzymes that are either lost in cooking or during processing. The heat of these processes destroys the enzymes that were already present in the food. Without these enzymes, the full digestive load of the meal falls on the digestive system, which can result in considerable gastrointestinal stress. In addition to the problems that food processing causes, the heavy use of antacids can have a deleterious effect on pepsin production, leading to a need for supplemental enzymes. The enzymes in Digest Soothe can function over a relatively broad pH range, making them a perfect complement to calcium carbonate, which was added to this formula for its acid-neutralizing properties. Antacids such as calcium carbonate are widely used for their ability to relieve the discomfort associated with heartburn.

Enzymes – A Historical Perspective

While the recognized use of enzymes as dietary supplements and therapeutic agents has only developed within the last century, humans have been benefiting from their presence in food since the dawn of mankind. Consumption of raw foods and traditional food processing practices, including aging of food and fermenting food, take advantage of dietary sources of enzymes. However, many modern food-processing practices actually deplete our food's supply of enzymes. Uniquely modern ailments that have developed since the onset of modern food processing techniques have lead to research into the benefits of dietary enzymes.

All raw food contains the enzymes needed to eventually "digest" itself through decay. Evidence provided by Prochaska and others, shows that the native enzymes found in raw foods actually act synergistically with human endogenous enzymes to help digest our foods, reducing the enzymatic burden of digestion on the body. Early human diets were rich in raw food sources allowing early man to benefit from this synergism. As civilization advanced, cooking and processing of foods became more prevalent. Though humans did not understand the basic mechanisms of enzymatic predigestion in raw foods, they started taking advantage of this fact early on, by allowing foods to age. During the aging process of foods, native enzymes begin the digestive process, making foods more tender, flavorful, and nutritious. A natural adjunct to the aging process was fermentation of foods. The act of fermentation subjects the food to the enzymatic actions of microbes, essentially predigesting the food. For centuries, foods have been fermented with bacteria and fungi to produce nutritious and tasty foods, such as tofu, cheeses, tempe, yogurt, and alcoholic beverages (Hesseltine and Wang, 1967).

In the late Nineteenth Century, large scale canning and heat processing techniques rapidly replaced traditional food preparation/preservation techniques in the Western world. The temperatures used in large scale food processing are specifically designed to destroy enzymatic activity and delay the predigestion (decay) of foods (Ashie et al, 1996). As a result, processed foods completely lack native enzyme activity, which some feel places the burden of digestion completely on the human body. Some researchers have theorized that the added digestive burden may lead to a variety of diseases and disorders, though this theory has yet to be proven conclusively (De Villiers, et. al, 1994)(Pottenger, 1946)(Price, 1941)(Howell, 1940)(Read, 1918).

In recent decades, the biological effects of modern food processing have been compounded by a modern lifestyle. Our modern fast paced high stress lifestyles tend to lead to improper digestion. Stress and anxiety trigger hormone releases that interfere with smooth muscle contraction and enzyme secretion, leading to indigestion (Sodem and Sodeman, 1967). This is further compounded by the tendency to eat on the run and to overeat. Because hurried eating results in partially chewed foods being dumped into the digestive tract, the tendency to eat on the run results in food not being properly mixed with salivary enzymes and to be in such large pieces that digestive enzymes can not adequately act on the food. Overeating causes more nutrients to be consumed than what the average human digestive system can handle. These issues can combine to overwhelm the body’s ability to completely digest consumed meals, which can lead to suboptimal nutrient uptake, constipation, and digestive discomfort Guinness et al., 1987).

Age Related Digestive Insufficiency

While diseases that cause pancreatic insufficiency can result in improper digestion and nutrient absorption, decreases in pancreatic enzyme production and release associated with aging can also lead to such problems. Laugier et al and Adhip et al have performed studies on the aging intestinal tract that show what most people over the age of 30 already know. A person’s ability to properly digest and absorb food decreases with age, regardless of disease. This reduction in digestive capacity is likely related to the fact that pancreatic digestive enzyme production decreases linearly after the second decade of age, at a rate of nearly 10% per decade (Glade et al, 2001). As a result, the ability to digest/absorb fats and proteins can become greatly impaired. This impairment can lead to a host of gastrointestinal symptoms and health consequences, including anorexia, abdominal discomfort, flatulence, constipation, reflux disorders, ulcers and diarrhea. In two separate clinical trials, Kataria and others tested the effectiveness of oral enzyme supplementation on the above stated symptoms. In both studies, the gastrointestinal symptoms of study participants improved significantly. In two subjects suffering from acid reflux conditions, the reduction of symptoms was striking. Additional studies indicate that papain is effective in the treatment/prevention of ulcers, a condition common in aging populations (Chen et al., 1981)(Cho and Han, 1984). While these conditions are in themselves a concern for seniors, malnutrition caused by such enzyme deficiencies can significantly reduce the quality and quantity of life in the aging population. Protein utilization of the elderly is of particular concern, because such deficiency can lead to reductions in immunity and muscle atrophy. Enzyme supplementation significantly improves protein utilization among the elderly. In a study of nursing home patients, treatment with Aspergillus enzymes and bromelain was shown to provide significant improvement of protein utilization (Glade et al, 2001). Such improvement in protein utilization is not only important for the elderly, but it can be important for any individual suffering from impaired protein nutrition.

Nutritional Support

Supplemental enzymes, as nutritional support for healthy individuals, are growing in popularity. While early pioneers like Dr. Read and Dr. Howell recognized the need for supplemental enzymes as a means of nutritional support in healthy individuals, human studies on the efficacy of such support is lacking. However, researchers have provided evidence that diets lacking in enzymes do have a negative impact on human health. In the 1940’s, Price made the observation that, in a single generation, members of aboriginal cultures lose genetic vigor when they abandon native whole food diets and begin consuming diets high in processed enzyme deficient foods. Price also observed that this vigor could be reclaimed when the population of these individuals returns to the native diet. In the same decade, Pottenger’s cat studies showed nearly identical results. Additionally, studies within the agricultural industry show that the addition of supplemental enzymes to the feed of agricultural animals increases their nutrient absorption, productivity, and overall health (McGilliard and Stallings, 1998)(Almirall et al., 1995)(Graham et al., 1989).

New Advances

The underlying premise for taking a digestive enzyme supplement is the capacity for better nutrient absorption through enhanced digestion. In cooperation with TNO of the Netherlands, Our Manufacturer of FEEL-20 Digest Sooth has been able to provide substantiation for this assertion.

The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research TNO (TNO Nutrition and Food Research) based in Zeist, Netherlands, is a reputable scientific organization whose mission is to be a link of knowledge between fundamental research and its applications to food, drugs and agrochemicals. To quantify the efficacy of supplemental enzymes, TNO proposed a series of experiments using a computer controlled dynamic gastrointestinal model (TIM).

TIM is a unique patented technology, developed by TNO, which simulates the conditions of the human stomach and the small intestine. Using this technology, we accurately replicated the dynamic environment of the human stomach and the small intestine when food is being digested and absorbed. The stellar feature of this system is that it allowed for sampling at various times during the digestive process, which enabled us to gather information in real time about the extent of digestion and absorption of food under various conditions.

The first step in this project was the formulation of a digestive enzyme blend that was generic, yet also effective. To this end, our formulators created a basic blend of proteases, carbohydrases and lipases. This blend was tested under two sets of conditions to observe digestibility and absorption of nutrients. The two conditions were perfect human digestion and impaired human digestion (70% reduced gastric and intestinal secretions). The TIM system was fed an FDA recommended meal with and without our digestive enzymes. The extent of digestion was monitored by sampling nutrients (glucose and nitrogen) at various times and at different points in the GI tract.

The results of the studies on Perfect Digestive Conditions showed a substantial increase in carbohydrate digestion in the small intestine, and a modest increase in protein digestion in the ileum of the small intestine with the trials that included the supplemental enzymes. The results of the studies on Impaired Digestive Conditions showed significant increases in both protein and carbohydrate digestion in the small intestine with the trials that included the supplemental enzymes. These experiments establish that our fungal digestive enzymes do survive the acidity of the stomach and continue to work in the small intestine.

This research is the first comprehensive study that shows that our fungal digestive enzymes substantially increase the level of digestion in the lumen of the small intestine and improve the bioaccessibility of proteins and carbohydrates. These results not only validate the use of digestive enzymes in cases of impaired digestion, but also show that most healthy adults can benefit by using a digestive enzyme supplement (Medhekar, 2004).

Proteolytic Enzymes

Protease (from Aspergillus oryzae) is a mixture of acid, neutral and alkaline proteases that demonstrates both exo-peptidase and endo-peptidase activity with high substrate specificity. This mixture contains a protease that has a high exo-peptidase level which allows the user to obtain a high degree of protein hydrolysis without formation of bitter products. These proteases have an effective pH range from 2.75 to 7.5. For this reason, this mixture of proteases works synergistically with endogenous enzymes to provide protein digestion throughout the entire digestive tract.

Protease (from Aspergillus niger) is characterized by its ability to hydrolyze proteins under acid conditions. The broad specificity of acid-stable protease enables the enzyme to, easily and efficiently, hydrolyze most soluble proteins. Because protease 3.0 has an effective pH range of 2.75 to 4.7, it is uniquely suited to work synergistically with endogenous pepsin to provide protein digestion in the stomach.

Neutral Bacterial Protease (from Bacillus subtilis) is an endopetidase that hydrolyzes the interior bonds of most soluble proteins. Neutral bacterial protease has an effective pH range from 5.5 to 8.5, and works synergistically with endogenous enzymes to provide protein digestion primarily in pyloric region of the small intestine.

The proteolytic enzymes used in this formula helps to digest protein to produce amino acids, which are important building blocks in the human body. The amino acids are used to build muscles, metabolic enzymes, neurotransmitters, and many other essential biochemicals. Proteolytic supplementation can be essential in digesting the extra protein consumed during the course of a typical modern diet. Proteolytic enzyme supplementation may also be an important factor in maintaining lean muscle tissue.

Carbohydrolytic Enzymes

Amylase will randomly hydrolyze the interior alpha-1,4-glucosidic bonds of starch to release simple sugars for digestion. This enzyme works synergistically with endogenous human amylase to digest starchy foods.

Glucoamylase will hydrolyze terminal 1,4-linked alpha-D-glucose residues successively from non-reducing ends of amylose chains to release free glucose. This enzyme also possesses the ability to hydrolyze alpha-1,6-glucosidic linkages in isomaltose and dextrins. This enzyme works synergistically with endogenous human amylase and supplemental amylase to potentiate the complete digestion of carbohydrate rich foods.

Invertase is characterized by its ability to catalyze the inversion of sucrose solution. This enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of sucrose into its component parts D-fructose and D-glucose. This action helps in the digestion of refined sugars that are common in modern diets.

Malt Diastase is characterized by its ability to hydrolyze amylose and other polysaccharides to remove successive maltose units (glucose-glucose dimers) from the non-reducing end. This enzyme works synergistically with amylase and glucoamylase to digest carbohydrate rich foods, particularly those produced from grains.

This combination of carbohydrases is designed to assist with carbohydrate digestion. This combination allows a more complete digestion of the carbohydrates consumed, which enables a person to properly digest and receive the maximum amount of nutrients available from their carbohydrate intake.

Lipolytic Enzymes

Lipase catalyzes the hydrolysis of triglycerides of simple fatty acid esters, yielding mono- and diglycerides, glycerol and free fatty acids. This blend of lipases is able to catalyze the hydrolysis of fatty acids from all three positions of the triglyceride, making for a more complete digestion of the triglyceride. It has broad substrate specificity on the fats and oils of vegetable and animal origins. These lipases work synergistically with endogenous enzymes to help digest fatty foods.

Supplementing with Lipase can help the body to properly digest the excessive fat being eaten in today’s typical high fat, high carbohydrate diet. Considerable digestive distress and even malabsorption of nutrients such as vitamins A and E can result from improper fat digestion.

Antacid Ingredient

Calcium Carbonate is used for the neutralization of stomach acid (HCl). This reaction forms calcium chloride, carbon dioxide, and water. In addition to being used for stomach acid neutralization, calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body. Calcium plays vital roles in numerous body functions, including enzyme activation, muscle contractions and nerve impulse transmissions. The bones act as the primary reservoir for this essential mineral, storing up to 99% of the body’s calcium. Because bodily processes cause blood levels of this essential mineral to fluctuate regularly, calcium is constantly moving in and out of the bones to maintain normal levels of serum calcium. To keep this process from resulting in a net loss of calcium from the bones, the diet must provide enough calcium to replace that which is lost from the bones when blood calcium levels dip. A diet that is chronically deficient in calcium will ultimately deplete the bone’s mineral stores, leading to osteoporosis. Scientific research suggests that calcium is necessary for strong bones and teeth, proper muscle contractions, and nerve impulse transmissions.