10 Best Enzymes for Digestion

Update date: 06/30/2020 16:27:05 33705 Share:

Author: Arkady Sagalovich

*Review of the best according to the editors of simplerule.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

If you go to a pharmacy and ask for some kind of enzyme preparation, you will definitely need to clarify for what purpose you need it. After all, an enzyme, or enzyme, is a special protein that is not itself absorbed by the body and has no nutritional value. Its task is to significantly accelerate chemical reactions by hundreds and thousands of times.

Therefore, the pharmacist can clarify exactly what you need. After all, enzymes can be used for wounds and purulent-necrotic processes, for example trypsin and ribonuclease. Enzymes can thin out sticky secretions if the patient has lung disease. There is a group of enzymes that thin the blood, dissolve blood clots, and are used for myocardial infarction. These are urokinase, streptokinase, fibrinolysin.

And finally, the group of enzymes that we need are drugs that improve digestion processes. They are numerous. These are gastric juice and abomin, pancreatin and pepsin, and many others. They are prescribed in cases where the gastrointestinal tract's own enzyme systems are deficient due to congenital defects, or temporarily suffer from some disease.

Enzyme preparations that improve digestion: what are they?

All enzyme preparations described in the article are needed for only one thing: replacement therapy. Replacement therapy is an attempt, using artificially introduced compounds into the body, to supplement the lack of physiological function, a kind of “prosthesis” of the digestive system. Enzymes are highly active and can improve not only intestinal but also gastric digestion.

Enzymes for improving digestion began to appear en masse in clinical practice and in pharmacies back in the 1970s. They are produced in the form of tablet preparations, all are well stored, and can be used both individually and in complex therapy for diseases of the pancreas, mild and severe diseases of the intestines, biliary tract, stomach and liver.

Modern enzyme preparations can be used in newborns, children, and adults. But still, the most common consumers of enzymes will be the elderly and the elderly, since for known reasons of general weakening of vital functions, both the digestive function of the stomach and the enzyme-secreting function of the pancreas are weakened. Their intestinal motility also suffers. What is included in modern enzyme preparations?

Enzymes for digestion in children

Problems with the digestive system can occur not only in adults, but also in children. Therefore, manufacturers produce special preparations that are suitable for children’s bodies. Our rating includes the 2 most popular enzymes.

Colif

This dietary supplement is not a drug and can be used for children from birth as an additional source of lactase in case of lactase deficiency. For babies under 12 months of age, dietary supplements are given along with breast milk or formula, adding it immediately before administration. It has passed clinical trials.

Colif contains exclusively natural ingredients - purified water, lactase enzyme and glycerin. The drug is available in the form of drops with a sweetish taste due to the glycerin content. After opening, the drops must be kept in the refrigerator, and they have a fairly long shelf life. Thanks to the breakdown of the main amount of lactose in milk, its better absorption is ensured. This helps children with colic in the first months of life.

Advantages:

• Natural composition;
• Can be used for children from birth;
• Ease of use;
• Long shelf life;
• High efficiency.

Flaws:

• Relatively high cost.

Colif can be used not only for infants, but also for older children with problems with the digestive system.

Lactazar

The main component of the supplement is lactose. The product is recommended for increased gas formation in children, colic and stool instability. It can also be used in cases of intestinal disorders, infections and lactose intolerance. The enzyme reacts only to milk carbohydrates, breaking them down for better absorption. At the same time, the development of the baby’s digestive system occurs in the prescribed manner.

Lactazar is available in the form of capsules with microelements. Their contents are added to the milk at each feeding, mixed thoroughly and given to the child. After this, you can feed the baby as usual. When artificial feeding, the product is added to the prepared warm mixture. From 5 years of age, children can take the product in the form of a diluted powder.

Advantages:

• Low cost;
• High efficiency;
• Wide spectrum of action;
• Various release forms;
• Long shelf life.

Flaws:

• Not very convenient to use while breastfeeding.

Composition of enzyme preparations

The vast majority of enzyme preparations contain digestive enzymes of animal origin, and almost always it is pancreatin, which is obtained from the pancreas of cattle, which is taken from slaughterhouses and sent to pharmaceutical factories. There is a second, more humane approach that does not involve the destruction of animals. These are artificially synthesized enzymes that are obtained as a result of synthesis using industrial microorganisms.

Most preparations with bacterial enzymes are required to work with food masses in the stomach. Much less often, yeast enzymes and even mold fungi can be used in prescription drugs. Such diversity is required if it is necessary to help a patient with a certain disease, or to select an enzyme that acts on a specific substrate, or to select the temperature regime of the enzyme’s action.

These drugs may contain pepsin, bile, chymotrypsin, and they may differ in the amount of enzymes, for example, pancreatin. The well-known Creon, which is one of the best enzyme preparations and which will be discussed below, can often be sold in several varieties. For example, Creon 10000, 25000, 40000. The number shows the specific strength, or the amount of enzyme in one tablet, and the higher the number, the greater the activity of the drug, the more severe damage to the gastrointestinal tract it must be used.

In practice, preparations that contain several cattle enzymes are most often used, for example, dried pancreas tissue, ground and peeled. Of course, it would be theoretically possible to create a drug from a single highly pure enzyme without any additives, but the effort would be too expensive, and therefore from the point of view of pharmacoeconomics it is unprofitable. But if we are talking about enzymes artificially created by microbes, then this can be done, and even created, like perfume, a multi-enzyme composition.

European companies most often produce dragees or tablets; in Asia, capsules are used. For children, granules and powder are recommended to be added to infant formula. Currently, on the pharmaceutical market of the Russian Federation there are enzyme preparations from 13 countries, ranging from Germany and France to Pakistan and even San Marino. However, the main supplier is Germany, which produces Creon, Pankreoflat - a complex drug that combines a medicine that improves digestion and a remedy for bloating.

The enzyme preparations market is quite a profitable business, because diseases of the digestive system account for 8% of all diseases, and the annual increase is about 2%. in absolute terms. This is about 20 million people. The reasons for the alarming increase include illiterate nutrition of schoolchildren and students, addiction to fast food, and all kinds of hot dogs. Needless to say, it is mainly the urban population who have digestive problems, even those with an above-average income that allows them to eat in fast food restaurants.

Tablets to improve digestion and metabolism

Consider popular pills that speed up metabolism.

Meridia

The medication is used to maintain the digestive system, remove toxins and waste from the body, and break down fat deposits. The active substance in its composition, sibutramine, accelerates metabolism several times and causes the digestive tract to digest food faster. In this case, partial loss of vitamins and minerals is possible, so during the course of using the drug you need to take additional vitamins and be sure to monitor your diet.

The dosage is selected individually, taking into account how severe the disorder is, and can be 10-15 mg of the active component per day. The use of tablets always begins with a minimum dosage, which can be increased if necessary. The duration of therapy is determined individually.

Turboslim

These metabolism boosting pills are herbal based and are often classified as dietary supplements. At the same time, many consider them to be a complete medicine that speeds up metabolism and enhances digestion. Turboslim also has an increasing laxative effect. This means that due to the increasing frequency of stool every day, a person may eventually encounter colitis and dysbacteriosis, as well as vitamin deficiency, if additional vitamins are not taken. Treatment involves the use of two tablets with breakfast and dinner, everything is determined by the type of drug, the effect of which can be night or day. The recommended course of treatment is one month.

Danabol

These pills to speed up metabolism and lose weight are hormonal and have a very strong effect, so they must be used carefully, assessing the possible risks. Indeed, in just a few doses, this remedy helps accelerate metabolism, improve digestion, and reduce weight.

There is an important point here. If this medication is used by women, then in addition to weight loss, they receive a significant restructuring of the hormonal system. This can cause the acquisition of masculine characteristics, in particular, male-pattern hair growth, deepening of the voice, and so on. The dosage of the medication is determined individually, taking into account body weight. There is no exact course, but the patient must understand that abrupt discontinuation of the drug can provoke the appearance of excess weight.

Xenical

These tablets can be used to improve metabolism in the absence of certain gastrointestinal pathologies. The drug does not allow fats to be processed because it blocks the enzyme lipase, which is responsible for the absorption of fat cells.

Take one tablet with each meal if it includes foods containing lipids. If there is no fat in the composition, the medicine should not be taken. On average, a patient drinks 2-4 tablets per day; more than five are contraindicated. The duration of treatment is determined individually, usually it is 2-4 weeks.

Listata

The drug is used for obesity and increased body weight. These are quite expensive tablets for improving metabolism; they are also capable of suppressing the absorption of fats and speeding up the process of their removal naturally. Take a remedy to improve digestion or metabolism only if there is a significant increase in body weight or obesity. It is recommended to combine medication with proper nutrition.

Take one tablet per day, the duration of therapy is determined individually and can last up to six months. It should be taken into account that the use of the drug may cause increased bowel movements.

Sibutramine

This drug increases the functioning of the digestive system several times, and also helps suppress the hunger center and relieve tension. It is indicated only for serious problems of the gastrointestinal tract and in the absence of ability to control appetite.

The recommended dosage is 10 mg. If within a month, with a normal reaction to the medication, it is not possible to achieve the desired result, the dose can be increased to 15 mg. The course can last up to one year.

Criteria for a good drug

A high-quality, balanced drug to improve digestion should have:

1. Data on enzyme activity, such as the amount of pancreatic lipase.
2. Creon has such data, and they were given above. The instructions for each enzyme preparation must contain information about activity. So, if the patient does not have any chronic disease of the digestive system, and discomfort, bloating and heaviness are caused by errors in the diet, taking large amounts of fatty foods, then a small dosage of lipase, no more than 3500 units, will be sufficient. But if there is an organic pathology, and the exocrine function of the pancreas suffers, for example, during an exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, then drugs with a higher content of enzymes are needed, the same Creon, starting from 10,000 units. The dose is always selected individually, depending on complaints and clinical symptoms.
3. A good drug should always be protected from the action of gastric juice, that is, have an acid-resistant coating. After all, it works in the duodenum.
4. Standardized content of enzymes among themselves. In addition to lipase, the active ingredient may be protease, which breaks down proteins, and amylase, which lyses carbohydrates.
5. The enzyme preparation must mix very well with food in the stomach, and simultaneously with the bolus of food enter the duodenum, no earlier and no later.
6. After entering the duodenum, the enzyme should be released and begin to work.

If at least one of these stages fails, the medicine will be ineffective. If it is not evenly mixed with the bolus of food in the stomach, then the enzymes will not be able to work in the full volume of the bolus, chyme. If the medicine remains in the stomach after the food has entered the duodenum, there will be no effect either. Finally, if the enzymes are not activated specifically in the duodenum, then the remedy will not have any effect.

Thus, creating a modern enzyme preparation is not an easy task. Anyone who thinks that it is enough to “roll” dried and powdered pancreatic tissue into a capsule is mistaken.

And now, before we begin to describe modern effective and popular drugs, let us recall those signs and symptoms of pancreatic insufficiency that most often force one to resort to the use of enzymes that improve digestion.

How to choose digestive enzymes

Enzymes cope with the digestion of heavy foods and facilitate digestion. When choosing a drug, you need to pay attention to the indications for use, composition and level of effectiveness.

The best laxatives

Indications for use

General indications for use are insufficiency of its own enzymes, which are produced by its own digestive system. Depending on the drug, they can be used for chronic pancreatitis, insufficiency of gastric secretion, inflammatory processes of the gastrointestinal tract, for dietary disorders, resection or after irradiation of the abdominal organs.

Compound

Depending on the composition, digestive enzymes can be divided into plant (pepphys), pancreatic (pancreatin, mezim, creon), combined (festal, digestal, panzinorm-forte, enzistal), disaccharidases (tilactase). The composition may also contain extracts of the gastric mucosa (abomine, acidin-pepsin).

Effects

When using drugs with gastric enzymes, digestion improves, inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract decrease, and intestinal function improves. They also help get rid of increased gas formation, bloating, and flatulence. In children, enzymes improve the absorption of milk in case of lactase deficiency.

How does pancreatic insufficiency manifest?

People with pancreatic enzyme deficiency develop digestive insufficiency. They cannot digest proteins, fats and carbohydrates fully. As a result, for example, the phenomenon of creatorrhoea and steatorrhea occurs. In the first case, undigested muscle fibers can be found in the feces after eating meat, and in the second, neutral, undigested fat exists in the feces due to a lack of pancreatic lipase.

As a result, complaints arise about instability of digestion, bloating, intolerance to certain types of food, alternating constipation and diarrhea. This leads to chronic damage to the intestines - secondary dysbiosis and vitamin deficiency develop (after all, many vitamins are produced by microbes living inside us), and immunity decreases. It is for the correction of these disorders that enzymatic preparations are intended.

The best enzymes for digestion

Modern enzyme preparations

The following is a list of various drugs to improve digestion, containing highly active enzymes, their combinations, or other ingredients. We tried to compile the list in such a way that it does not include products containing the same components in the same concentrations. For example, many drugs contain only pancreatin, and they contain nothing but pancreatin. These are drugs such as Panzinorm, Mezim, Pangrol, Creon and others.

It is enough to describe just one Creon, and mark the rest as its synonyms and commercial analogues from various manufacturers. This list includes medications containing an extract from the gastric mucosa, for example acidin-pepsin, some combined enzymes when Pancreatin is combined with bile and hemicellulose components. This is Festal, Enzistal, Panzinorm Forte. There are also plant enzymes plus pancreatin, for example Wobenzym.

For each drug, the price range, dosage, and number of capsules in the package are given. The price is valid for spring 2021, for pharmacies of all forms of ownership in the Russian Federation. The criteria for inclusion in this list are national clinical recommendations of nutritionists and gastroenterologists, specialists in the treatment of chronic pancreatic diseases. And the list opens with one of the undisputed leaders of enzyme preparations, namely Creon. Therefore, we will describe it in more detail than others.

Pancreatin (Creon Panzinorm, Enzistal-P, Mezim, Mezim – Forte, Mikrasim, Pangrol, Penzital, Pancitrate, Panzikam)

Rating: 4.9

The following enzymes are isolated from pancreatic tissues of slaughtered animals:

1. pancreatin (a mixture of enzymes representing a gray-yellow powder);
2. amylase (for breaking down carbohydrates);
3. lipase (for fats);
4. proteases (for proteins).

The drug is produced in an enteric coating. After all, normally these enzymes work in the duodenum, where the environment is much more alkaline than in the stomach.

"Creon" and its analogues are used in all situations where primary or secondary insufficiency of the synthesis of pancreatic enzymes develops, or there is a mechanical obstacle to their entry into the intestine. These are chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, resection of the pancreas, malignant neoplasms of the pancreaticoduodenal region, obstruction and narrowing of the excretory ducts of the pancreas. These are pathological formations of the common bile duct, taken in the elderly and senile age. Creon is prescribed after operations on the stomach and gall bladder, in the complex therapy of chronic cholecystitis, hepatitis and cirrhosis (due to insufficient secretion of bile).

The following dosages of the drug are currently available: 10,000 units (0.15 g capsule, or 150 mg, 20 capsules in a package), 25,000 units (0.3 g capsule, or 300 mg, 20 capsules in a package), 40,000 units (in bottle 50 capsules).

Enzymes are taken for a long time, at least several weeks, if these are not errors in eating in a healthy person. The most important thing is that the drug is taken with food, and the food is washed down with a sufficient amount of liquid. After all, all enzymes work in the liquid phase.

Advantages and disadvantages

There are very few contraindications to taking enzyme preparations: acute inflammation and exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis. The use of Creon tablets is prohibited for two reasons: firstly, in case of acute pancreatitis and exacerbation, “hunger, cold and rest” are prescribed. Since food does not enter the intestines, then the enzymes that help break it down have nothing to do there either. And secondly, in acute pancreatitis, enzymes are not friends, but worst enemies, since they cause autolysis, or self-digestion of gland tissue. And it’s really not worth helping the disease destroy a vital organ. In addition, the drug is contraindicated if you are allergic to its components. Although it is rare, it does happen: although the enzymes of all mammals are very similar, they are still foreign protein molecules, and an allergic reaction can develop to them.

As usual, side effects are a “continuation of benefits.” If you overdo it, you may experience a feeling of discomfort, diarrhea (diarrhea), or nausea with heartburn. Therefore, you need to take Creon, gradually increasing the dose until you feel acceptable. It must be said that in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis, Creon must be taken while adhering to a diet. In this case, you can get by with the minimum dosage of the drug and not have any side effects.

Of all the above drugs, Creon is the most expensive. Thus, a package of 20 capsules of “Creon” 25000 costs from 500 rubles, and domestic pancreatin (60 tablets) with the same dosage costs from 32 rubles. At the same time, the cleaning, level of activity and severity of the effect of Creon are very good. It is produced by Abbott Laboratories LLC.

Pancreatin + Dimethicone (Pankreoflat)

Rating: 4.8

We have seen how well pancreatin works, which itself is a mixture of 3 enzymes that help digest proteins, fats and carbohydrates. What happens if you add dimethicone to pancreatin, which is used separately as a remedy for bloating, but has no enzymatic activity? Then you get a wonderful complex drug called Pankreoflat. It contains 170 mg of pancreatin and 80 mg of dimethicone, enclosed in one white oblong tablet.

The enzyme part of the drug is pig pancreas powder, and it contains the necessary enzymes in abundance: alpha-amylase, lipase, chymotrypsin and trypsin. Lipase breaks down fats, trypsin breaks down proteins into short-chain amino acid residues, and alpha-amylase breaks down polysaccharides that contain glucose. Dimethicone itself is chemically inert, does not enter into any reactions, and once in the intestines, it eliminates excess gas formation, which is characteristic of chronic pancreatitis and dyspeptic intestinal syndrome. How does dimethicone work? it simply changes the surface tension of the gas bubbles in the intestine, they burst, and the gas is no longer retained by the bubble, but freely comes out or is absorbed by the intestinal wall. Pancreatin itself and dimethicone itself are not absorbed in any way and also leave the intestines.

Indications for use: all dysfunction of the exocrine pancreas without exacerbation. This is pancreatitis, chronic. Ahilia, that is, lack of gastric juice. These are various dysfunctions of the biliary tract, chronic liver pathology, as well as the period after surgery on the digestive organs, and Pankreoflat is especially indicated if there is excessive gas formation. For adults, you need to take 1 or 2 tablets with food; the course of treatment can be long, but in any case it is determined by a doctor.

The drug is produced by Solvay Pharma, from Germany, and you can buy film-coated tablets in quantities of 50 pieces. This is a rather expensive drug, and it costs about 2,500 rubles for this package. But you can completely replace it with regular Creon, which you will take together with regular dimethicone. If you can’t find dimethicone in pharmacies, it can be replaced with activated dimethicone, which is called simethicone. This is already a quite affordable drug, and you can buy it, for example, in the form of Bobotik or Espumisan. You will save quite a large amount, but you will get exactly the same effect. Only instead of one drug you will have to take two.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pankreoflat is quite well tolerated, but there are contraindications. It cannot be used in the early stages of acute pancreatitis, or during exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, then a strict diet is necessary, and it can be prescribed only in the interictal period, for planned therapy. Side effects may include allergic reactions, abdominal pain, discomfort or a tendency to constipation in case of overdose. But usually the drug is well tolerated and no problems arise. The only thing is that you cannot chew the tablet, since active enzymes, once they get on the oral mucosa, can lead to ulcer formation. The tablets should be swallowed whole. This remark applies to all enzyme active drugs without exception.

Acidin-pepsin

Rating: 4.7

The next drug already helps not only with pathology of the pancreas, but also with insufficiency of gastric juice. It contains the gastric enzyme pepsin, as well as betaine hydrochloride. Under the influence of hydrolyzed betaine, hydrochloric acid is formed, which increases the acidity of gastric juice. And added pepsin, an enzyme that hydrolyzes proteins, improves digestive function in the stomach. From here we can name the indications: these are hypoacid and antacid gastritis, achylia, and symptoms of gastric dyspepsia. It is advisable to take two tablets of acidin-pepsin, that is, 500 mg with meals, that is, 3-4 times a day. Children with the same diagnoses are prescribed half the dosage. Acidin-pepsin is produced by the Belarusian pharmaceutical plant Belmedpreparaty, and this drug is inexpensive: from 85 to 200 rubles for a package of 50 tablets.

Advantages and disadvantages

Despite the fact that Acidin-pepsin contains no pancreatin, no amylase, no lipase, it does not break down carbohydrates, does not hydrolyze fats, and does not help the functioning of the pancreas, it does contain the main enzyme that breaks down proteins, namely pepsin . And since digestion begins in the stomach, this medicine can fully be considered an enzyme preparation.

This enzyme medicine also has contraindications. Naturally, this is an increased concentration of hydrochloric acid, hyperacid gastritis, heartburn, stomach ulcers, or erosive processes in the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum. If you accidentally take Acidin-pepsin with these symptoms and diagnoses, it will intensify all these symptoms. Of course, adverse reactions may include heartburn, discomfort or pain in the epigastrium, as well as allergic reactions. By and large, Acidin-pepsin can be considered hydrochloric acid and a means for digesting proteins in a “dry form”. All patients with gastric digestive insufficiency are grateful for this inexpensive medicine. It allows you to compensate for errors in the diet, and to digest for the stomach what nature has denied it.

Hemicellulase + bile components + pancreatin (Festal, Enzistal)

Rating: 4.6

Let's add a third component! Now let’s add bile components (extract and bile acids) and hemicellulase to pancreatin. These are enteric tablets Festal. A pack of 20 of these pills will cost from 130 to 160 rubles. They are produced by the Republic of India, the Indian representative office of Sanofi, and sometimes Turkey may be listed as the manufacturer.

Why is Festal so interesting? It contains bile acids. And if a person has chronic pancreatitis, then he most often has a bile deficiency, and their presence in the duodenum compensates for biliary, that is, bile deficiency. There is still pancreatin, three enzymes for breaking down proteins, fats and carbohydrates. This facilitates the pancreas and absorption in the small intestine. In this regard, Festal works in the same way as other drugs, for example, Creon. In addition, Festal contains bile extract, it stimulates the excretion of your own bile, emulsifies fats, facilitates their absorption and simplifies the work of the lipase enzyme, which can break down fats only in emulsified form. In addition, bile extract helps the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, these are vitamins A, E, K, D.

What is hemicellulase? This is an enzyme. Hemicellulase breaks down cellulose, or fiber. We cannot digest fiber ourselves, since we are not bark beetles, whose larvae are excellent at gnawing tunnels in wood. But fiber improves peristalsis and absorbs toxins in a healthy person. And if there is a lack of digestion, then it accumulates in the intestines and increases gas formation. And hemicellulase reduces the symptoms of bloating, and acts in the same way as dimethicone ultimately in Pankreoflat.

Festal is indicated for all disorders of pancreatic function (not exacerbation), in the presence of chronic pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, flatulence, and alcoholic liver damage. It is prescribed after cholecystectomy, due to the loss of bile acids, and even to improve digestion in patients with normal gastrointestinal function, but due to overeating and a sedentary lifestyle. You need to take Festal one or two tablets 3 times a day with meals, a higher dosage is possible, but it is prescribed only by a doctor. The duration of treatment can vary: from several days, and even up to several years if long-term replacement therapy is necessary.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantage of Festal is the completeness of the action. It provides not only “enzymatic services”, but also improves the functioning of the hepatobiliary zone, the secretion of bile, provides the same bile, improves intestinal motility, and reduces gas formation. At the same time, the drug is inexpensive. There are contraindications to it, but not many. These are acute pancreatitis, severe liver failure, hepatitis, obstructive jaundice, when bile cannot physically drain, intestinal obstruction, which, of course, requires surgery, a tendency to intestinal hypermotility, diarrhea and children under 3 years of age. But if you use it moderately, and according to indications, then it can compete with Creon, and as for the price, it is extremely low.

Lactazar

Rating: 4.5

We need to talk a little about children's enzyme preparations. Such an enzyme product for babies is Lactazar, which is produced by the domestic company Pharmstandard-Leksredstva. A package of 50 capsules of 150 mg will cost from 250 to 460 rubles. This drug is even indicated for children who are breastfed. The composition contains an enzyme for the breakdown of milk sugar, namely lactose - the lactase enzyme. The drug is available in capsules of 150 mg, and one capsule contains 700 units of the active lactase enzyme. It is used for lactase deficiency.

It is prescribed to babies up to one year old at the rate of one capsule per feeding. The capsule must be opened and poured into expressed breast milk. If we are talking about artificial feeding, then you need to add one capsule per 100 ml of milk formula. If we are talking about older children, from one to 5 years, then you can add one capsule for each year of life, and pour them into non-hot food containing milk. For example, you can pour 5 capsules into a warm milk soup for a 5-year-old boy. If the food temperature exceeds 55 degrees, then the enzyme is inactivated. It should be remembered that this supplement, which facilitates the absorption of milk sugar, that is, lactose, is not a medicine.

However, not only children can experience a deficiency of the lactase enzyme. Therefore, Lactazar is also produced for adults, as well as for children over 7 years old. Here the capsules already have a large dosage of 550 mg each, and a package of 100 such capsules will cost from 700 to 1300 rubles. Why are there so many capsules? This is because adults need more enzyme as they consume more milk. Yes, the price is quite high, but if a patient has a congenital lactase deficiency, he will experience certain symptoms of lactase deficiency all his life. This means that he needs to strictly avoid all dairy products, and this is not so easy. Taking lactase will make such a patient a healthy person for some time who can fully digest dairy products. Lactazar is a remedy that improves the quality of life.

Advantages and disadvantages

Since this product is a monocomponent and contains only one enzyme, there are practically no contraindications to it, as well as no side effects. This is a remedy aimed at correcting the deficiency of just one single enzyme. Therefore, this drug can be considered very important, convenient, and even the price of this product is not a hindrance.

Wobenzym

Rating: 4.4

Wobenzym, which we consider at the end of the list, stands out as a separate “cliff” among all enzyme preparations. If all the remedies described above were used only to correct digestion, with a lack of enzymes, then Wobenzym managed to have indications for almost any branch of medicine. It contains the already known pancreatin, lipase and amylase, then the enzymes trypsin, bromelain and papain, and also chymotrypsin.

This combination of very strong natural enzymes, not only of plant but also of animal origin, produces a complex of effects - improves local immunity, fights inflammation, improves the resorption of blood clots, fights swelling, prevents platelet aggregation, and even relieves pain a little. Wobenzym reduces the number of circulating immune complexes, improves the activity of macrophages, lymphocytes and the phagocytic activity of neutrophils. It improves the permeability of the vascular wall, promotes the resorption of hematomas and bruises. It affects lipid metabolism, reduces cholesterol synthesis in the liver, and reduces the level of atherogenic fractions.

Naturally, it also affects digestion. It is taken in capsules, and the composition of powerful enzymes improves the breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in the duodenum. Therefore, it can be used for chronic pancreatitis in remission, chronic hepatitis, duodenitis, accompanied by a deficiency of digestive juices, in the case of hypoacid gastritis, and errors in diet.

Wobenzym is a fairly expensive enzyme preparation. It is produced by the German company Mukos Pharma, and one package of 40 enteric tablets will cost from 400 to 530 rubles. It should be taken 30 minutes before meals with a glass of water.

The dosage is determined by the doctor, but depending on the activity and severity of the disease, it is prescribed from 3 to 10 tablets three times a day. Therefore, even with a minimum of 9 tablets per day, this is only four and a half days of use. That is why Wobenzym is available in packages with a huge number of tablets. The largest jar contains 800 tablets, and its cost is from 6,000 to 8,500 rubles. If you prescribe Wobenzym in a huge dosage of 30 tablets per day, which is the maximum allowable, then such a huge package will be enough for almost a month of treatment.

Advantages and disadvantages

Wobenzym is indeed an active drug, but the big drawback is poor compliance, since taking five, six, seven or ten tablets three times a day is simply not always convenient. In addition, this drug is never used in a single form as monotherapy, but always only in complex therapy. In our case, we are talking about a lack of digestive function. And naturally, trypsin, chymotrypsin, alpha-amylase, lipase are the enzymes that we need to maintain the function of the stomach and pancreas. But why a patient with digestive insufficiency should additionally take papain and bromelain, which are plant enzymes, is not entirely clear. We get excess foreign activity, which can, roughly speaking, backfire. Otherwise, the drug is well tolerated, there are few contraindications to it, but it must be prescribed by a doctor.

Tablets that speed up metabolism: types

The range of drugs that accelerate metabolism is quite wide. Tablets are conventionally divided into the following types:

• Complex simulators that help cells produce additional energy. These drugs are used in sports medicine and as doping to improve performance in sports. These metabolism pills can also be used for weight loss. Preparations may contain theine, caffeine, taurine.
• Drugs based on antipsychotics and antidepressants, such as Reduxin, Lindaxa, Sibutramine and so on. These components act on the fat layers through the nerves, increasing the production of calories to basicly maintain homeostasis in the body, for example, a stable temperature. Also, drugs are able to deceive the autonomic system that controls digestion, help reduce appetite and create a feeling of fullness. Of course, such drugs have many contraindications and side effects, and they are used only with a doctor’s prescription and in extreme cases.
• Hormonal pills and drugs that affect the functionality of the thyroid gland. Iodine deficiency is considered a fairly common phenomenon, due to which the thyroid gland does not fully perform regulatory functions. This often happens in pregnant women. Helping the thyroid gland produce secretions increases the level of thyroxine in the blood, which helps with weight loss. But at the same time, similar reactions are possible, which manifest themselves in deterioration of health, increased sweating, and high temperature. You also need to take into account that weight loss can also occur due to the loss of muscle mass. Using such drugs without consulting an endocrinologist can be extremely dangerous.