The Best Digestive Enzyme Supplements for a Happy Gut in 2024
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Digestive enzymes are proteins naturally produced by the body. These proteins, including protease, lipase and amylase, break down the foods that you eat so that your body can absorb and utilize carbohydrates, fats and proteins for vital processes.
Your digestive system produces several digestive enzymes, each with a specific function. Though most people make sufficient amounts of digestive enzymes, some health conditions impact the body’s ability to produce these proteins, which interferes with digestion.
Digestive enzyme supplements, which contain man-made versions of digestive enzymes, may be necessary for some people with certain health conditions that lead to digestive enzyme deficiency and helpful for others who are experiencing digestive symptoms like bloating and gas after eating.
This article lists six of the best digestive enzyme supplements on the market in 2024 and covers the potential benefits, side effects and safety of supplemental digestive enzyme products.
This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.
Our Picks for Best the Best Digestive Enzymes in 2024:
- Best Digestive Enzyme for Bloating: HUM Nutrition Flatter Me
- Best Plant-Based Digestive Enzymes: Microbiome Plus+ Digestive Enzymes
- Best Digestive Enzyme for IBS: Pure Encapsulations Digestive Enzymes
- Best Digestive Enzyme for Histamine Resistance: Seeking Health Histamine Digest
- Best Digestive Enzyme with Probiotics: TruFlora Bio-Cleansing Probiotic
- Best Digestive Enzyme Alternative for Gut Health: Transparent Labs Probiotic Advanced Gut Health Formula
Best Digestive Enzyme for Bloating: HUM Nutrition Flatter Me
HUM
Key features & specs
- Key ingredients: Protease, peptidase, bromelain, papain, lipase, amylase, glucoamylase, alpha-galactosidase, invertase, diastase, hemicellulase, cellulase AN, beta-glucanase, phytase, lactase, ginger root powder, fennel seed powder and peppermint leaf powder
- Certifications: cGMP
- Subscription: HUM VIP plan offers an additional 25% off your entire order every with monthly auto-delivery. A total of three orders must be fulfilled with the VIP plan.
- Best for: People who experience bloating after meals, those on a tight budget
- Price per serving: $0.43
If you’re experiencing bloating after eating, taking a digestive enzymes supplement may help reduce your symptoms. Studies show that digestive enzyme supplements that contain a combination of enzymes, including protease, lipase, amylase and lactase, could help reduce bloating and other symptoms in people with digestive disorders like dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Taking digestive enzymes may help reduce bloating by improving the body’s ability to break down protein, carbohydrates and fats. HUM Nutrition Flatter Me contains 18 full-spectrum enzymes, including protease, lipase and amylase, that help break down your food, thus reducing bloating and other symptoms like gas after meals. It also contains ginger, peppermint and fennel seeds, which have been shown to ease digestive symptoms like nausea and bloating. HUM recommends taking one capsule of Flatter Me twice daily, before your two main meals.
Overall, HUM Nutrition Flatter Me seems to be an effective product for bloating. Customers report that taking HUM Nutrition Flatter Me consistently between meals helped reduce their bloating and improve their overall digestive health.
Plus, HUM Nutrition Flatter Me is much more affordable than other digestive enzyme supplements, so it makes a smart choice for those on a tight budget. HUM takes product quality seriously, which is why all HUM products are third-party tested for purity and composition as well as contaminants.
What we like:
- It’s affordable
- HUM products are third-party tested
- Contains effective ingredients known to reduce bloating
What to consider:
- Some customer reviews mention that the product wasn’t effective for reducing their digestive issues
Related Post: The 13 Best Probiotic Supplements for Gut Health, Bloating, IBS and More
Best Plant-Based Digestive Enzymes: Microbiome Plus+ Digestive Enzymes
Microbiome Plus+
Key features & specs
- Key ingredients: Protease, aspergillopepsin, amylase, lipase, cellulase, glucoamylase, invertase, alpha-galactosidase, beta-glucanase, pectinase, xylanase, phytase, hemicellulase, lactase, bromelain, papain and peptidase
- Certifications: Non-GMO, cGMP
- Subscription: Subscribers save 15%
- Best for: People who prefer plant-based supplements, those who want to save money using a subscription
- Price per serving: $0.35
Some digestive enzyme supplements contain animal-based enzymes, such as trypsin and chymotrypsin, which are derived from pigs and cows. If you prefer plant-based products, then you should consider Microbiome Plus+ Digestive Enzymes. This product contains 18 plant-based digestive enzymes, including protease, lipase, amylase, cellulase and lactase, and is meant to tame symptoms such as bloating and gas.
All of the enzymes in Microbiome Plus+ Digestive Enzymes are plant-derived, so this product is appropriate for those following vegetarian diets. However, keep in mind that it does contain dairy, so it’s not vegan-friendly. Microbiome Plus+ recommends taking one capsule of its Digestive Enzymes supplement with each meal that contains foods you don’t tolerate well.
Even though the Microbiome Plus+ website states that the Microbiome Plus+ Digestive Enzymes supplement has nine positive customer reviews, it shows reviews for all of its products, and it’s not possible to filter reviews by product. This makes it difficult to gain access to unbiased customer reviews.
All Microbiome Plus+ products go through third-party testing for quality and safety.
What we like:
- Made with plant-based enzymes
- Third-party tested
- Relatively affordable
What to consider:
- Unclear how customers feel about the product because it’s difficult to filter reviews on the website
- Not vegan-friendly
Best Digestive Enzyme for IBS: Pure Encapsulations Digestive Enzymes
Amazon
Key features & specs
- Key ingredients: Amylase, protease, glucoamylase, lactase, lipase, beta-glucanase, invertase, cellulase, alpha-galactosidase, phytase and hemicellulase
- Certifications: USP
- Subscription: NA
- Best for: People with IBS, those looking for a high-quality digestive enzyme supplement
- Price per serving: $0.38
IBS is a common digestive disorder that affects up to 15 percent of adults in the US. Post-meal digestive symptoms, such as diarrhea, abdominal distention, gas, bloating and feeling overly full are common symptoms experienced by those with IBS. Several studies have found that supplements that contain a combination of digestive enzymes could help improve these common IBS-related symptoms.
Pure Encapsulations Digestive Enzymes Ultra may be a worthwhile supplement to add to your daily routine if you have IBS and are struggling with symptoms such as gas and bloating after meals. This supplement contains a blend of plant-based digestive enzymes that could help support and enhance the digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fiber and dairy.
Taking two capsules of Pure Encapsulations Digestive Enzymes Ultra with each meal is recommended to help ease IBS symptoms, like bloating and gas. On Amazon, customers with IBS report that Pure Encapsulations Digestive Enzymes Ultra helped ease their IBS-related symptoms, like constipation and bloating.
Pure Encapsulations Digestive Enzymes Ultra is free from common allergens, like gluten, milk, tree nuts and soy as well as unnecessary binders, fillers and preservatives.
Pure Encapsulations exceeds standards set by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), a non-profit organization that sets standards for the quality and purity of dietary supplements. All raw materials and finished products are tested for purity and potency by third-party laboratories, including Eurofins, Silliker and Intertek.
Related Post: The Best Supplements to Relieve Constipation and Help With Regular Bowel Movements
What we like:
- Helpful for IBS-related symptoms
- Third-party tested
- Free from common allergens
What to consider:
- More expensive compared to other digestive enzyme supplements
Best Digestive Enzyme for Histamine Resistance: Seeking Health Histamine Digest
Seeking Health
Key features & specs
- Key ingredients: Vitamin C and DAO2 TM (Diamine oxidase)
- Certifications: cGMP
- Subscription: Monthly, 7% savings
- Best for: Those who experience symptoms like bloating and gas after eating foods high in histamine, people who want to enjoy high-histamine foods and drinks without experiencing symptoms
- Price per serving: $.88
Histamine is a type of amine, compounds that bacteria produce during food storage and fermentation. Amines are found in a wide variety of foods, including fermented foods and aged cheese. Histamine is also naturally produced by the body and plays roles in immune function digestion and nervous system function. Most people can easily break down the histamine found in foods and drinks, but some people aren’t able to properly break down histamine, which causes it to build up in the body. People who are intolerant to histamine often have impaired function of the enzymes responsible for breaking it down, like diamine oxidase and N-methyl-transferase.
People with histamine intolerance can experience various symptoms, including headaches and bloating, after ingesting foods and drinks high in histamine, such as alcohol and sauerkraut.
Seeking Health Histamine Digest is specifically designed to alleviate symptoms related to histamine intolerance by breaking down histamine so your body can excrete it. It contains two ingredients; DAO2 TM (Diamine oxidase) and vitamin C. DAO2 ™ is a patented enzyme that supports the healthy breakdown of histamine, while vitamin C plays an important role in the production of DAO and the regulation of inflammation.
Even though this supplement may help reduce symptoms, Seeking Health explains on its website that although Histamine Digest is effective for providing symptom relief related to histamine intolerance, it will not solve the underlying health issue causing your intolerance. Seeking Health recommends working with a healthcare provider to get to the root of your histamine issue.
On the Seeking Health website, customer reviews mention that taking Histamine Digest allows them to enjoy foods and drinks high in histamine without experiencing symptoms like headaches, bloating and fatigue.
Seeking Health recommends taking one capsule of Histamine Digest just prior to consuming high-histamine foods or drinks. You can also take a capsule on an empty stomach to support healthy histamine levels in the digestive tract.
Seeking Health products are third-party tested for heavy metals, microbial contaminants and product potency. This supplement is free from major allergens, such as gluten and dairy, as well as artificial flavors, colors and preservatives.
What we like:
- Third-party tested
- Free from common allergens
- Helpful for people sensitive to dietary histamine
What to consider:
- Not suitable for vegetarians or vegans
Best Digestive Enzyme with Probiotics: TruFlora Bio-Cleansing Probiotic
Amazon
Key features & specs
- Key ingredients: Bacillus coagulans (Lactobacillus sporogenes), Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus salivarius, beta-glucanase and hemicellulase
- Certifications: Non-GMO
- Subscription: Delivery every 20, 40 or 60 days, 10% savings
- Best for: Those looking for a supplement that provides digestive enzymes and probiotics, people wanting to improve their overall gut health
- Price per serving: $1.40
TruFlora® Bio-Cleansing Probiotic contains 15 billion colony-forming units (CFU) of Lactobacillus and Bacillus probiotic bacteria as well as the digestive enzymes beta-glucanase and hemicellulase. This combination is meant to help promote the health of your digestive system by encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria while cleansing potentially pathogenic bacteria.
Studies show that supplementing with Lactobacillus and Bacillus probiotics may help alleviate symptoms associated with digestive diseases, like IBS and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as well as strengthen the intestinal barrier and improve immune health.
TruFlora® Bio-Cleansing Probiotic is a good choice for those looking to support their gut health and support the breakdown of fibers found in plant foods. Dosing of TruFlora® Bio-Cleansing Probiotic depends on your needs and gut health, but it’s recommended that most people take one capsule per day, with or without food.
Customers report that supplementing with TruFlora® Bio-Cleansing Probiotic helped improve their gut health and reduced symptoms like bloating and gas.
TruFlora® enlists third-party labs to ensure the purity, potency and quality of every product.
TruFlora® Bio-Cleansing Probiotic is vegan and non-GMO and is free from gluten, dairy, nuts and soy.
Related Post: 5 Probiotic Side Effects You Should Watch Out For
What we like:
- Contains probiotics and digestive enzymes
- Third-party tested
- Free from major allergens
What to consider:
- Expensive
The Best Digestive Enzyme Alternative for Gut Health: Transparent Labs Probiotic Advanced Gut Health Formula
SI Showcase
Key features & specs
- Key ingredients: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei, and Bifidobacterium lactis
- Certifications: cGMP
- Subscription: Every 30, 45 or 60 days, 10% savings
- Best for: People looking for a natural way to boost gut health, those who have been directed to supplement with a probiotic by their healthcare provider
- Price per serving: $1.50
If you’re not sure if digestive enzymes are the right choice for you but want to supplement your diet with a product that encourages overall gut health, Transparent Labs Probiotic Advanced Gut Health Formula may be worth adding to your diet.
Though this supplement doesn’t contain digestive enzymes, it provides a variety of probiotic strains, including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus plantarum, all of which may help encourage a healthy gut environment.
Studies show that people who supplement with multi-strain probiotic supplements may experience improvements in intestinal barrier function, liver health, insulin resistance and symptoms related to digestive disorders like IBS.
That said, probiotics aren’t appropriate for everyone, so you should check with your healthcare provider before adding a probiotic to your wellness routine.
Customer reviews on the Transparent Labs website mention that taking this supplement has helped improve their overall digestive health, including regularity.
Transparent Labs provides certificates of analysis (COAs) for all of its products, which are conducted by third-party laboratories. In this way, the company shows its dedication to quality, as obtaining a certificate of analysis is proof that your supplement was tested and met specific quality standards. Transparent Labs Probiotic Advanced Gut Health Formula is also gluten-free and non-GMO.
What we like:
- COA available
- Provides a variety of probiotic strains shown to improve gut health
What to consider:
- Expensive
What Is a Digestive Enzyme?
Digestive enzymes are proteins that are naturally produced by the body. These proteins break down the foods we eat so the body can use the nutrients in food for energy and vital bodily processes.
Digestive enzymes are made in the pancreas, small intestine and stomach, though the pancreas produces most of the enzymes your body needs to break down carbohydrates, fats and proteins found in food.
There are several types of digestive enzymes that break down different nutrients. The main digestive enzymes are amylase, lipase and protease, which break down carbohydrates, fats and proteins, respectively.
Lactase is a digestive enzyme that breaks down lactose, the sugar found in milk. A deficiency of this enzyme is what causes lactose intolerance. Another type of digestive enzyme is sucrase, an enzyme that breaks down sucrose, a sugar found in foods like fruit as well as table sugar.
Although most people produce sufficient amounts of digestive enzymes to properly break down and utilize the nutrients found in food and beverages, certain health conditions and hereditary causes can lead to digestive enzyme deficiency.
Pancreatic insufficiency resulting from health conditions like chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, cystic fibrosis (CF) and diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders, such as celiac disease, are examples of health conditions that may cause digestive enzyme deficiency.
Genetic mutations, including CFTR mutations and SPINK1 mutations, are other causes of pancreatic insufficiency.
If the body is unable to produce sufficient amounts of digestive enzymes, it will result in symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, nutrient deficiencies, abdominal pain and weight loss. In people with digestive enzyme deficiency, supplemental digestive enzymes are necessary for proper digestion. People who aren’t producing optimal amounts of digestive enzymes, but don’t necessarily have a deficiency, such as those with gastrointestinal disorders that impact the stomach and intestines, may benefit from digestive enzyme supplements as well.
Healthcare providers may prescribe digestive enzymes to treat certain health conditions, such as pancreatic insufficiency. You can also purchase digestive enzymes over the counter at pharmacies, health food stores and online.
Benefits of Digestive Enzyme Supplements
It’s important to note that digestive enzyme replacement therapy is necessary for some people, including those with diseases that impact the pancreas, such as pancreatic cancer and CF, and other digestive enzyme-producing organs.
People with health conditions that interfere with digestive enzyme production and release need to take digestive enzymes in order to digest and absorb nutrients from their food and for their bodies to be able to perform vital processes. People who depend on digestive enzyme replacement therapy are prescribed digestive enzymes by their healthcare provider.
For example, pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is often used to treat cystic fibrosis, pancreatic insufficiency and certain cancers such as pancreatic and stomach cancer. PERT may also be prescribed to people who’ve undergone surgery on the stomach or pancreas.
Others take digestive enzymes in order to minimize symptoms and help optimize their digestion, even though they don’t have an enzyme deficiency. For example, studies show that supplementing with digestive enzymes may benefit people with conditions like IBS and IBD.
Digestive enzymes may help reduce post-meal digestive symptoms, such as bloating and gas, in people with IBS and IBD. A 2017 study that included 43 IBD patients experiencing IBS symptoms found that the participants treated with soluble fiber, a type of sugar called inositol and digestive enzymes after lunch and dinner in addition to IBD medication for four consecutive weeks reported reductions in abdominal pain, bloating and gas compared to participants receiving IBD medication alone. Plus, the digestive enzyme treatment was associated with an overall improvement in general well-being.
Keep in mind that this study used digestive enzymes in combination with other supplements, including soluble fiber, so it’s unclear if treatment with digestive enzymes alone would have had the same effect.
Digestive enzyme treatment may also help reduce digestive symptoms in those with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten intolerance. For example, digestive enzyme supplements that contain endopeptidases, which are enzymes that help break down proteins, may help improve the digestion of gluten and reduce symptoms in people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity who inadvertently consume gluten.
Additionally, supplementing with digestive enzymes may benefit people with dyspepsia, the medical term for upper abdominal discomfort, including symptoms like bloating, a burning sensation, feeling overly full and gas. A 2020 study that included 50 older adults with dyspepsia found that daily treatment with a combination of digestive enzymes and the probiotic Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 for five days improved dyspepsia symptoms like bloating, gas and abdominal pain compared to a placebo.
Who May Benefit From Taking a Digestive Enzyme Supplement
People with certain medical conditions and those experiencing digestive symptoms may benefit from taking digestive enzymes.
Here are some examples of populations that may benefit from supplemental digestive enzymes:
- Those with pancreatic insufficiency from diseases like pancreatic cancer and CF
- People who’ve undergone gastrointestinal surgery or surgery on their pancreas
- Those with IBS, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis who are experiencing digestive symptoms after eating
- People with dyspepsia symptoms
- Those with Celiac disease and non-celiac gluten intolerance
- People who feel like they aren’t properly digesting their food and experience symptoms after consuming certain foods and beverages
- People with histamine intolerance
Though digestive enzyme supplements benefit some people, it’s essential to visit your healthcare provider before taking a supplement to ensure it’s safe and appropriate for your specific health needs.
Digestive Enzyme Precautions
Digestive enzymes may be helpful or even necessary for some people. However, most people don’t require oral supplementation with digestive enzymes. Unless you have a medical condition that’s impacting your body’s ability to properly produce and secrete digestive enzymes, supplemental digestive enzymes are likely unnecessary.
It’s also important to never self-diagnose and self-treat digestive symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, constipation and gas. Though most people experience these symptoms occasionally, if you’re noticing consistent digestive symptoms, including after eating or drinking, you should make an appointment with your doctor right away.
Digestive symptoms could be a sign of serious underlying health issues, including certain cancers, like ovarian and colorectal cancer. Arbitrarily taking digestive enzymes and trying to “treat” digestive symptoms on your own can result in a delay in the diagnosis of serious diseases and necessary treatments.
Also, some digestive enzyme supplements may cause side effects like a burning sensation in your stomach as well as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, especially if high doses of enzymes are taken.
Additionally, digestive enzymes may interact with certain medications. For example, the enzyme bromelain, which helps break down proteins, may interfere with blood-thinning medications like warfarin while the digestive enzyme papain may increase blood levels of certain antibiotic medications.
For these reasons, you should always clear supplements with your healthcare provider before taking any dietary supplements, including digestive enzymes, especially if you have a health condition or are taking one or more medications.
How to Choose the Best Digestive Enzyme for You
Before purchasing a digestive enzyme, consider working with a healthcare provider, such as a gastroenterologist or registered dietitian who specializes in gut health. As mentioned above, only people with certain health conditions and digestive symptoms usually benefit from taking supplemental digestive enzymes.
If a healthcare provider suggests taking a digestive enzyme to treat symptoms or optimize digestion, you can ask them for recommendations based on your specific health needs. Remember, there are many different types of supplemental enzymes and different enzyme formulations, so it’s recommended to get expert advice before picking out a digestive enzyme supplement.
For example, people with gluten intolerance may benefit from taking specific digestive enzymes that break down gluten proteins, while someone with IBS may benefit from taking a supplement that contains a combination of enzymes that help break down protein, fat and fibers.
Also, you’ll want to consider the cost of digestive enzyme supplements as well as any dietary restrictions that you may have. Digestive enzyme supplements are available at different prices, so it’s important to look for a high-quality option that fits your budget. Keep in mind that certain digestive enzymes contain dairy and other common allergens. If you have allergies, avoid digestive enzyme supplements that contain ingredients that may trigger an allergic reaction.
Lastly, if you’re vegan or follow a plant-based diet, choose digestive enzyme supplements that use plant-derived enzymes and are free from animal-based ingredients, like dairy.
Our Methodology: How We Chose the Best Digestive Enzyme
When choosing the best digestive enzyme supplements, we considered factors including ingredient quality, safety, customer feedback and cost.
We picked products that use high-quality, evidence-based ingredients and are free from unnecessary ingredients like fillers and preservatives.
The digestive enzyme products on this list are manufactured by companies that adhere to strict quality and safety standards. Many of the products on this list have been third-party tested to ensure quality and safety.
We also considered customer feedback when choosing the best digestive enzyme supplements and picked products that had mostly positive customer reviews.
Lastly, we made sure to include digestive enzyme supplements at different price points so that you can choose a high-quality product that fits into your budget.
Read more about SI Showcase's product review process.
Best Digestive Enzyme Supplement FAQs
What's the difference between a probiotic and a digestive enzyme?
Probiotics are defined as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.” They’re naturally found in your gut and can also be found in certain foods and taken as dietary supplements. Although they’re not necessary for everyone, probiotics can help improve overall gut health and may reduce symptoms related to digestive diseases and other health conditions. Digestive enzymes are not bacteria; they’re proteins that help break down the food you eat.
Can you take them at the same time? Yes, you can. In fact, some research findings suggest that taking probiotics and digestive enzymes may benefit people with certain health conditions, like dyspepsia.
How long should I take digestive enzymes for?
This depends on what you’re using them for. Some people may only take digestive enzymes for a short time period, such as after surgery, while others may have to take digestive enzymes for life in order to treat health conditions like cystic fibrosis.
If you’re not sure if you should be taking digestive enzymes or how long you should be taking them, reach out to a healthcare provider for advice.
How long does it take for digestive enzymes to start working?
Studies show that people who start supplementing with digestive enzymes to treat symptoms related to health conditions, like IBD and dyspepsia, may experience symptom improvements in as little as a week.
Are there any downsides to taking a digestive enzyme?
Even though digestive enzymes are generally considered safe, they’re not appropriate for everyone. Not only are they unnecessary for most healthy people, but certain digestive enzyme supplements may interact with common medications, such as blood thinners. They may also cause side effects, like nausea and diarrhea, especially if taken in very high doses.
Is Taking a Digestive Enzyme Worth It?
Digestive enzyme supplements are supplements that contain enzymes that help break down nutrients found in foods, like proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
Some people, like those with medical conditions such as CF and pancreatic cancer, require digestive enzymes in order to break down their food. Others used digestive enzymes to optimize digestive and reduce food-related symptoms even though they don’t have a digestive enzyme deficiency.
Studies show that digestive enzyme supplements may benefit some people, including those with dyspepsia, IBD and IBS. However, you should check with your healthcare provider before adding a digestive enzyme supplement into your routine to ensure it’s safe and appropriate for your health needs.
Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.
