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DigesTech Research

DigesTech: The breakdown

Enzymes play an important role in the chemical breakdown of food and absorption of nutrients. As soon as carbohydrates enter the mouth, salivary amylase begins splitting long chain carbohydrate starches into smaller sugars. The stomach creates an acidic environment that permits the further emulsification of food and breakdown of protein. The gastric contents of the stomach are slowly released into the intestine in the form of a thick liquid, called chyme, and absorption can start to take place. Various enzymes are involved in the further chemical breakdown of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates that permit the full processing of food and bioactive constituents.

The malabsorption of food is a common digestive issue that can lead to stomach discomfort, bloating, inflammation, and nutritional deficiencies[1]. An example of digestive failure is lactose intolerance, or the inability to process milk sugars due to decreased activity of the lactase enzyme[2]. Directly ingesting the enzyme through dietary supplementation can help manage the symptoms of intolerance[3]. Proper chemical breakdown of complex carbohydrates, fats, and proteins all require specific enzymes, each of which can be deficient or decrease in function over time[4]. DigesTech includes a range of enzymes that directly aid the gastrointestinal tract with breaking down these proteins, fats, and carbohydrates to readily absorbable molecules.

The immune system is another important regulator of the body's reaction to food intake. Occasionally, if nutrients are not broken down for absorption at the appropriate step, an inflammatory response can occur. A natural method to calm this aberrant response is with anti-inflammatory food extracts, such as fennel seed and ginger root. Used for centuries as natural digestive aids and analgesics, the phytochemical compounds present in these extracts decrease discomfort and inflammation directly in the gastrointestinal tract[5, 6]. The multi-enzymatic and anti-inflammatory actions of DigesTech can facilitate the full breakdown of food and help maximize the absorption of nutrients.

Reference

1. Siddiqui, Z. and A.S. Osayande, Selected disorders of malabsorption. Primary care, 2011. 38(3): p. 395-414; vii.
2. Levitt, M., T. Wilt, and A. Shaukat, Clinical implications of lactose malabsorption versus lactose intolerance. Journal of clinical gastroenterology, 2013. 47(6): p. 471-80.
3. Shaukat, A., et al., Systematic review: effective management strategies for lactose intolerance. Annals of internal medicine, 2010. 152(12): p. 797-803.
4. Shepherd, S.J., M.C. Lomer, and P.R. Gibson, Short-chain carbohydrates and functional gastrointestinal disorders. The American journal of gastroenterology, 2013. 108(5): p. 707-17.
5. Mohamad, R.H., et al., Antioxidant and anticarcinogenic effects of methanolic extract and volatile oil of fennel seeds (Foeniculum vulgare). Journal of medicinal food, 2011. 14(9): p. 986-1001.
6. Baliga, M.S., et al., Update on the chemopreventive effects of ginger and its phytochemicals. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 2011. 51(6): p. 499-523.

DigesTech Ingredients

Serrapeptidase

Serrapeptidase is commonly found in the silkworm helping it to breakdown its hard outer cocoon. In humans its been found to help breakdown non-living tissue and has shown anti-inflammatory properties.

Fennel Seed

Fennel seeds may provide quick and effective relief from many digestive disorders. Being rich in minerals like magnesium, they also include phytonutrients like Anethol that help to inhibit spasms in smooth muscle like the intestinal tract. And more recent studies have found consumption of fennel seeds to increase bile production and possess antimicrobial properties.

Ginger Root

Ginger root has been used as a tonic for improved digestion across cultures with a history going back to 3000 BC. Traditional uses include improved digestion, alleviating indigestion, easing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, motion sickness, heartburn, and stomach cramps. Studies today show its effectiveness in reducing the severity of and duration of nausea. The two main phytonutrients gingerol and shogaol, are thought to stimulate the bodies flow of digestive fluids such as saliva, gastric juices, and bile.

Pepsin

Pepsin is a protease enzyme that breaks down proteins into polypeptides. Proteins are long peptide chains that take several stages to be broken down into their base constituent amino acids. Pepsin is the enzyme that creates those initial 'cuts.'

Amylase

Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down starch into simple sugars. Complex carbohydrates like those found in grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, and vegetables are just long chains of sugar molecules linked together. Amylase helps break these down into glucose that your body can then use for fuel.

Protease

Protease are enzymes that break the peptide bonds that link amino acids into polypeptide chains forming proteins. That can also help digest the cellular walls of unwanted wastes like toxins, undigested proteins, and other cellular debris.

Lipase

Dietary fats are too large for the body to absorb. Lipase enzymes break down these fatty triglycerides into monoglycerides and fatty acids that the body can then absorb through the intestinal lining.

Cellulase

The plants we eat have a cellular wall made primarily of cellulose, a fibrous matter that we as humans to do not create an enzyme to digest. So we have to rely on fermentation in the large intestine by our flora. Cellulase is an enzyme that breaks down cellulose into beta glucose.

Invertase

Invertase breaks down sucrose into its parts, glucose and fructose. Combined with other carbohydrate digesting enzymes it can help enhance the overall digestion of starch, carbohydrates, and sugar.

Lactase

Is a critical enzyme in breaking down the complex sugar lactose into glucose and galactose. Without lactase, lactose remains in your digestive tract undigested. Lactose is found in dairy products.

Maltase

Maltose is a sugar that is produced as the body breaks down starches and complex carbohydrates. Maltase helps break down maltose into glucose relieving some of the burden on the pancreas and small intestine.

Glucoamylase

is a unique digestive enzyme in that it breaks off a free glucose molecule from long chain carbohydrates, starches, and maltose. Instead of breaking these long chains into smaller chains it simply 'cuts' a glucose from the end.

Alpha Galactosidase

Glycolipids are sugar-fat molecules found in foods like broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, kidney beans, and lentils. These tend to be more challenging for the body to break down and can lead to gassiness and bloating. Alpha Galactosidase is an enzyme that breaks down this specific sugar-fat molecule.

Pectinase

Pectin is a type of polysaccharide that makes up the soft cell walls of fruits and vegetables. Think the inside of an apple. Pectinase helps digest this soft fiber cellular wall.

Xylanase

Is an enzyme that breaks down a specific component of a fiber called hemicellulose into a simple sugar called xylose.

Hemicellulase

Beta Glucanase

is a carbohydrate digesting enzyme that breaks down glycosidic bonds within beta-glucan. Glucans can create up to 60% of the cellular wall of many fungal organisms like Candida albicans, a major player in candida overgrowth in the G.I. tract.