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Enzyme supplements that
are animal-sourced, typically
enzymes from the pancreas,
stomach or small intestine of
pigs and cows, will become
denatured. Basically, this means
they lose all ability to become
active and are dead upon arrival
in the small intestine unless
the supplement has an enteric
coating to protect it until it reaches the small intestine.

Enzyme supplements that are plant-based may or may not become
inactive in the highly acidic environment of the stomach. If they do
not, they’ll attempt to digest whatever food is in your stomach of
the correct type. Those that become inactive, however, are usually
not denatured. Unlike animal-sourced enzymes, once the plant
sourced enzyme reaches the lower acidity of the small intestine, it
becomes active again. If not actively involved in digestion at that
point, the plant-based enzymes, especially proteases, readily pass
through the intestinal lining to become systemic.

Should I Use Plant-Based or Animal-Sourced
Enzymes?

While animal-sourced enzymes are known to offer some additional
support to an overworked pancreas and have been studied longer
(going back to the late 1800s), in most cases plant-based enzymes
are preferable.

First, as described above, plant-based enzymes in most supplements
easily pass through the acidic environment of the stomach without
becoming denatured – even without an enteric coating.

The Healthy Back Institute® • 47