Synergies & Differences Between Digestive Enzymes and Probiotics

Digestive enzymes and probiotics are not the same, but they are both essential to healthy digestion. Probiotics support balance in your gut microbiome, while digestive enzymes break down the food we eat.

Inadequate amounts of one or the other can negatively impact your gut health. If you’re not getting enough in your diet, both are available in supplement form whenever your digestive health needs a boost.

Colorado residents: Looking for a healthcare provider to help you get to the root of your gut problems? Set up a free 15-minute consultation to learn more about how we help patients identify and reverse the underlying causes of their issues so they can get back to living.

The Difference Between Digestive Enzymes and Probiotics

Digestive enzymes and probiotics are often confused with one another, but there are some key differences, starting with how both are found in the body. The body doesn’t produce probiotics naturally, but it does produce different types of digestive enzymes.

They also have different impacts on digestive health. 

Probiotics are a more holistic part of gut health, helping you maintain a good balance of healthy gut bacteria. Digestive enzymes have a more direct impact. They help your body break down food and macronutrients into smaller, more absorbable pieces for nutrition.

What Are Digestive Enzymes?

Digestive enzymes are naturally occurring compounds synthesized and secreted by organs like the salivary glands, stomach, pancreas, and small intestine. Together, they help your body break down the food you eat.

There are many different types of digestive enzymes. Where they’re produced along your digestive tract determines the effects they’ll have on the nutrients you consume: 

Digestive Enzyme	Where Produced	Targeted Nutrients
Amylase	Salivary glands, pancreas	Carbohydrates
Maltase	Salivary glands, pancreas	Maltose and similar sugars
Protease	Pancreas	Proteins
Lipase	Pancreas	Fats
Trypsin	Small intestine	Proteins
Lactase	Small intestine	Lactose
Sucrase	Small intestine	Sucrose
Pepsin	Stomach	Proteins

When you eat something, your digestive enzymes activate to break down that food into a substance your body can absorb. That includes proteins into amino acids, fats into fatty acids, or carbs into simple sugars.

If your gut health is compromised, this digestive process may be disrupted, and you may not get the nutrition you need for overall health. This can impact everything about how you feel, including energy levels, gut discomfort, and metabolic function.

Additional health benefits of digestive enzymes include:

• Reduced digestive discomfort. Healthy levels of digestive enzymes reduce symptoms like gas, bloating, indigestion, and abdominal pain. This may be thanks to the enzymes’ effects on more difficult-to-digest foods.
• Improved symptoms from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Research shows that enzyme therapy works particularly well with patients with diarrhea-predominant variety, or IBS-D.
• Symptom relief from food intolerances like lactose intolerance. People who take lactase supplements before ingesting dairy products (such as Lactaid, the one found in most stores) are less likely to experience the unpleasant side effects of lactose.
• Enhanced energy levels. Chronic malabsorption of carbohydrates and proteins contributes to fatigue. Efficient, consistent digestion supports your body’s functions, including energy levels.
• Weight management. Proper digestion and optimized absorption of nutrients may play a part in regulating your appetite. Your digestive health is also a key contributor to a healthy metabolism.
• Reduced risk of malabsorption. Perhaps most importantly, healthy digestion means your body gets what it needs from your food. Poor digestion puts you at risk for chronic conditions that go well beyond your gut health.

Are digestive enzymes probiotics? Digestive enzymes are not probiotics, but the two do work together to support healthy digestion.

 

 

 

 

 

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What Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are live microorganisms like bacteria and yeasts that are ingested through certain foods or probiotic supplements. When they’re at healthy levels, they promote a good balance of intestinal microflora and beneficial bacteria. 

In simpler terms, they can help your gut return to healthier function after an influx of unhealthy bacteria. This can be caused by food intolerances, chronic stress, antibiotics, digestive issues, or autoimmune conditions.

Additional benefits of probiotics include:

• Improved nutrient absorption. Probiotics create a healthier environment for digestive enzymes to do their work. This reduces your risk of malabsorption and inflammatory conditions caused by poor nutrition.
• Lower risk of chronic gastrointestinal conditions like IBS and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A diverse gut microbiome reduces your risk of bacterial infections that contribute to gut-related conditions.
• Enhanced intestinal barrier function. This can improve symptoms caused by leaky gut syndrome or intestinal permeability. Leaky gut can cause chronic gut problems and worsen symptoms of IBS. 
• Bowel movement regularity. Patients with loose stools, constipation, or inconsistent bowel movements often find relief after starting probiotics supplementation. This may be thanks to the probiotics’ effects on the gut microbiome.
• Improved immune system function. A healthy gut is important to immune system health. It strengthens your body’s responses against infections and reduces inflammation, two critical factors in preventing disease. 
• Protection against infection, including urinary tract infections (UTIs). Probiotics, especially Lactobacilli, are essential to a healthy urogenital tract (the organs of the urinary and reproductive systems).
• Enhanced skin barriers. Both oral and topical probiotics can have a positive effect on acne-causing bacteria and skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and allergic inflammation.
• Lower risk of gum disease. A healthy oral microbiome is important in preventing oral infections, as buildups of harmful bacteria can contribute to gum inflammation and periodontal disease.

How Digestive Enzymes and Probiotics Work Together

Digestive enzymes and proteins work together to support your digestive health. Enzymes break food into absorbable nutrients, while probiotics create a more conducive environment for ideal absorption. They help digestive enzymes work more efficiently.

This enhanced digestion isn’t just good for your gut health; it’s important to your overall well-being. Any disruption can lead to uncomfortable digestive symptoms, a weakened immune system, and a higher risk of chronic health conditions.

Foods with Digestive Enzymes

Unlike probiotics, digestive enzymes naturally occur in the body. Some people don’t have enough of them due to health conditions causing enzyme insufficiency. Others have a deficiency in certain types of enzymes that can cause food intolerances, gut discomfort, or malabsorption. 

Much like a detox, eating foods that are sources of digestive enzymes is an excellent natural remedy for improved digestion. Foods rich in digestive enzymes include:

• Papaya (for the enzyme papain)
• Pineapple
• Mango
• Avocado
• Bananas
• Kefir
• Sauerkraut
• Kiwi
• Honey
• Ginger

Note: If you have a condition that causes digestive enzyme insufficiency, an enzyme supplement may be the best way to ensure you get the nutrition you need.

Visit the PrimeHealth store for medical grade, third-party tested, evidence-based supplements to support your gut health and overall wellness.

Foods with Probiotics

Your body has trillions of microbes within its microbiome, but probiotics themselves aren’t naturally-occuring. They’re passed through the nutrition we eat or drink from birth.

Prebiotics, the “food” for microflora, are also consumed through food and supplements. These are typically found in high-fiber plants and work together with probiotics to support a healthy digestive system.

You can boost your probiotic profile by consuming more fermented, probiotic-rich foods. These include:

• Yogurt
• Kefir
• Sauerkraut
• Kimchi
• Miso
• Buttermilk
• Tempeh
• Kombucha
• Cottage cheese
• Pickles

Should You Take Digestive Enzyme or Probiotic Supplements?

You may benefit from taking probiotics if your gut health is out of balance, you have a dysbiotic gut microbiome, or you experience frequent gastrointestinal symptoms like bloating, acid reflux, or IBS. These supplements can increase the good bacteria in your gut and crowd out the pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria.

Probiotics are also helpful after a round of antibiotics, as these deplete your microbiome of valuable bacteria.

There are different kinds of probiotic supplements available for various purposes, but the most common come from two main species: Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus. They can be taken separately, but when combined, they are frequently used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases. 

You may benefit from taking digestive enzymes if your body struggles with enzyme production (like if you have an enzyme deficiency) or nutrient absorption. 

Side effects of digestive enzyme insufficiency include:

• Stomach pain or cramps
• Diarrhea
• Bloating or gas
• Unexplained weight loss
• Changes to bowel movements, especially oily stools

Common causes of digestive enzyme insufficiency are:

• Congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency: This rare genetic disorder affects the body’s ability to digest sugars like sucrose or maltose. It’s typically identified in young children after they start consuming sugars and starches.
• Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI): This occurs when your pancreas doesn’t produce enough enzymes needed to digest food in the small intestine. People with conditions like diabetes, cystic fibrosis, pancreatic cancer, celiac disease, and IBD are at a higher risk.
• Lactose intolerance: This is when your body doesn’t produce enough lactase to break down lactose, the sugar found in dairy products. This is one of the most common food sensitivities linked to digestive enzymes.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you think you may have a condition at the root of your digestive issues. Symptoms can mimic those of digestive conditions like IBS.

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Can You Take Digestive Enzymes and Probiotics Together?

You can take digestive enzymes and probiotics together. Both are important to digestive and overall gut health. Whether you need one more than the other depends on your symptoms, existing nutritional deficits, and current health conditions.

It’s always best to talk to your primary care doctor before starting a regimen of supplements. There may be other causes at the root of your digestive health concerns.

Mechanisms of Action: How Enzymes and Probiotics Complement Each Other

Digestive enzymes and probiotics make an amazing team when it comes to supporting gut health and overall well-being.

Digestive enzymes act as the “breakdown crew,” working hard to break nutrients like carbs, proteins, and fats into smaller, easier-to-absorb pieces during digestion. This not only helps your body get the nutrients it needs but also creates the perfect conditions for probiotics—the friendly bacteria in your gut—to thrive.

Probiotics return the favor by helping your body absorb nutrients more efficiently, strengthening your gut lining, and even repairing damage caused by inflammation or digestive issues.

Emerging Research on Digestive Enzymes and Probiotics

New research is shedding light on how probiotics and digestive enzymes team up to improve gut health, especially for those dealing with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A 2022 study in the Journal of Frontiers in Microbiology found that combining these two therapies improved the gut barrier function compared to using them on their own.

This powerful duo improved digestion and helped reduce bloating, cramping, and irregular bowel movements by supporting a healthier gut microbiome.

Tailored Enzyme Therapy for IBS

Digestive enzymes can make a big difference when it comes to managing IBS symptoms, especially if certain food intolerances are part of the problem. For instance, if you’re dealing with lactose intolerance, a lactase dietary supplement could help.

Similarly, protease and lipase enzymes can make digesting protein and fats easier, cutting down on that uncomfortable post-meal bloating and gas. Early research even shows that these enzymes can reduce common IBS-D symptoms like diarrhea and bloating.

Plus, combining them with a low-FODMAP diet has been shown to give even better results for symptom relief, according to studies. This kind of personalized support can help you tackle your unique digestive challenges and feel more in control.

How to Choose the Right Supplements

When it comes to managing IBS symptoms, the right probiotics and enzymes can make a big difference. Here’s how to choose them wisely:

• Go for reputable brands with clear labeling. Look for products that specify the exact probiotic strains and enzymes they contain. Targeted strains like Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium infantis are supported by research for improving IBS symptoms like bloating and irregularity. For enzymes, seek blends that include amylase, lipase, protease, and lactase, especially if lactose intolerance is an issue.
• Check the dosage. For probiotics, aim for supplements with at least 1 to 10 billion CFU (colony-forming units) per day, as this amount has been shown to help with common IBS symptoms. For enzymes, follow the serving size on the label—usually taken before meals—and start with a lower dose to see how your body reacts before increasing.
• Avoid irritants. Look for supplements free of artificial fillers, gluten, or unnecessary additives, which could aggravate IBS symptoms.
• Consult a professional. To personalize your approach, consider speaking with our functional medical team at PrimeHealth provider who can recommend the best combination of enzymes and probiotics for your specific needs.

Role of Prebiotics in Enhancing the Effectiveness of Probiotics

Prebiotics and probiotics are a powerhouse duo for your gut, working together in what’s called a “synergistic relationship.” This means they’re better together!

Probiotics bring healthy bacteria to your gastrointestinal tract, while prebiotics feed those bacteria, helping them grow and do their job. Prebiotics are fibers like inulin or resistant starch that travel through your system to your colon, where they’re fermented by good bacteria.

This teamwork can boost gut health, strengthen your gut lining, reduce inflammation, and even help with IBS symptoms by supporting bacteria like Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus (often found in probiotic supplements).

Want to add prebiotics to your diet? It’s easier than you think! Include foods like:

• garlic
• onions
• leeks
• asparagus
• bananas
• oats
• barley

The trick is to start slowly, especially if you’re managing IBS, to see how your body reacts. If food isn’t cutting it, prebiotic supplements made from natural sources like chicory root or acacia fiber could be a good option.

Final Thoughts

If your gut health is out of whack, it’s time to consider how a combination of probiotics and digestive enzymes could help. These two allies work together to improve digestion, strengthen your gut lining, reduce inflammation, and ease IBS symptoms like bloating and irregularity.

Colorado residents: Looking for a healthcare provider to help you get to the root of your gut problems? Set up a free 15-minute consultation to learn more about how we help patients identify and reverse the underlying causes of their issues so they can get back to living.

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