About the Product
DigeZyme® 200 mg from HSN's EssentialSeries is a food supplement in uncoated tablets based on the DigeZyme® enzyme complex, a patented raw material by Sabinsa Corporation that combines the five main classes of human digestive enzymes: alpha-amylase, protease, lactase (beta-D-galactosidase), lipase, and cellulase, all of microbial origin (obtained from yeasts and fungi by vegetable fermentation, without using animal sources such as pig or bovine pancreas). The uncoated tablet format ensures the fastest possible disintegration after ingestion, with immediate enzymatic availability from the first minutes of the meal, without the need to take it before food. The declared enzymatic activities (alpha-amylase 24,000 U/g, protease 6,000 U/g, lactase 4,000 U/g, lipase 1,000 U/g, cellulase 200 U/g) ensure the effective potency of each enzyme. Vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, allergen-free. DigeZyme® is a registered trademark of Sabinsa Corporation.
Benefits
DigeZyme®: the patented enzyme complex that covers all macronutrients and cellulosic fibre: Sabinsa Corporation's DigeZyme® is one of the most recognised and used digestive enzyme complexes in the supplement industry, present in numerous HSN protein formulas (Evoexcel 2.0, Evolate 2.0, Evocasein 2.0) and other brands. The advantage of DigeZyme® over less sophisticated enzyme complexes lies in its complete coverage of all dietary macronutrients: proteins (protease), carbohydrates including starch (alpha-amylase), lactose (lactase), fats (lipase), and cellulosic fibre (cellulase). This broad-spectrum enzymatic coverage makes DigeZyme® a universal digestive support supplement, unlike isolated enzymes that only cover one class of macronutrient.
Alpha-amylase (24,000 U/g): digestion of complex carbohydrates and starch: Alpha-amylase is the endogenous enzyme produced by the salivary glands and pancreas for the digestion of starch (glucose polysaccharide) into maltose, maltotriose, and dextrins. In meals rich in starch sources (rice, bread, pasta, potato), alpha-amylase activity is crucial for efficient digestion of complex carbohydrates. The activity of 24,000 U/g is the highest of the five enzymes in the DigeZyme® complex, reflecting the quantitative importance of carbohydrate digestion in a typical diet. People with insufficient salivary or pancreatic amylase production (common in situations of chronic stress, pancreatic disease, or ageing) can especially benefit from this component.
Protease (6,000 U/g): protein digestion and amino acid availability: The protease in the DigeZyme® complex catalyses the hydrolysis of peptide bonds in dietary proteins, complementing the action of endogenous proteases (gastric pepsin, pancreatic trypsin and chymotrypsin, intestinal peptidases). For athletes with high protein intake (1.6 to 2.5 g/kg/day), proteolytic digestive capacity can become a limiting factor for the efficient absorption of all ingested amino acids. Supplementation with DigeZyme® in a single daily dose before the main protein-rich meal can contribute to more complete and efficient protein hydrolysis. Additionally, exogenous proteases with systemic activity (after partial intestinal absorption of intact enzymes) have documented anti-inflammatory potential in some pathologies.
Lactase/Beta-D-galactosidase (4,000 U/g): lactose digestion for intolerant individuals: Lactase is the enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of lactose (milk disaccharide) into glucose and galactose. Relative or absolute deficiency of intestinal lactase (hypolactasia, which affects most adults of Asian, African, and Southern European descent) results in symptoms of lactose intolerance (flatulence, diarrhoea, abdominal pain) after consuming dairy products. The inclusion of lactase in DigeZyme® makes it useful for people with mild to moderate lactose intolerance who do not wish to completely eliminate dairy from their diet. The activity of 4,000 U/g is sufficient for digestive support in meals with moderate lactose content.
Lipase (1,000 U/g): fat digestion and support for fat-soluble nutrient absorption: Lipase catalyses the hydrolysis of triglycerides and other lipids into free fatty acids and monoglycerides, which are absorbed by the intestinal epithelium. Pancreatic lipase production can be insufficient in contexts of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (common in chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, coeliac disease), but can also be suboptimal in particularly fat-rich meals. Lipase supplementation improves fat digestion and, indirectly, the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and other nutrients that require the presence of fat for their absorption (carotenoids, such as lutein and zeaxanthin).
Cellulase (200 U/g): digestion of cellulose and vegetable fibre: Cellulase is unique in the DigeZyme® complex because it is an enzyme that mammals do not produce endogenously: the human body cannot digest cellulose (the main component of plant cell walls) without this enzyme. The inclusion of cellulase in DigeZyme® improves the digestion of raw vegetables and cellulosic fibre, reducing the amount of undigested plant material that reaches the large intestine and is fermented by the microbiota, contributing to the reduction of gas formation and bloating associated with high consumption of raw and fibrous vegetables.
Vegan microbial origin: no animal ingredients, non-GMO: Non-microbial alternatives to digestive enzyme complexes are typically extracted from pig or bovine pancreas, which poses suitability issues for vegan and vegetarian diets. DigeZyme® exclusively uses enzymes of microbial origin (from fungi such as Aspergillus oryzae and Rhizopus oryzae and other microorganisms), obtained by fermentation without the use of GMOs, making it completely suitable for any diet including vegan.
Uncoated tablet for rapid disintegration and immediate enzymatic availability: The uncoated tablet format (without coating) is deliberately chosen by HSN to ensure the fastest possible disintegration of the tablet after ingestion, with release and availability of enzymes still during the meal or immediately afterwards. Alternatives in enteric capsules or with delayed-release coating delay enzymatic release to the small intestine, which may be suitable for enzymes that should not be denatured by acidic gastric pH, but unnecessarily delays the action of enzymes that are stable at acidic pH (such as alpha-amylase and protease from DigeZyme®).
Uses
Recommended dose: Take 1 tablet immediately before or during the main meal. The ideal timing is at the beginning of the meal, when the presence of food in the stomach and duodenum stimulates the secretion of endogenous digestive enzymes, making the enzyme supplement most effective when taken in this context.
Target users: DigeZyme® is especially useful for athletes with very high protein intake (where proteolytic capacity can be limiting), people with slow or difficult digestion after fat-rich or protein-rich meals, people with mild lactose intolerance, people prone to abdominal bloating and gas after meals rich in raw vegetables, and older adults (where endogenous digestive enzyme production gradually decreases with age).
Synergistic combinations: For more complete digestive support, combine with probiotics (HSN's GI Biotics) which complement enzymatic action with intestinal microbiota support, and with Betaine HCl for gastric acidity support (essential for pepsin activation and proper food bolus transit to the duodenum).
