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Pancreatic Enzymes Improve Digestion to Reduce Malabsorption
Pan 5X Capsules Digest 70-85 Times Their Weight in Dietary Fats, Starches and Protein
Pancreatic enzymes are important in hydrolysis of proteins, carbohydrates and fats into metabolically useful elements - amino acids, sugars, fatty acids and glycerol. Pan 5X is so abundant in pancreatic enzymes that one capsule will digest: · 85 times its weigth in dietary starch. · 85 times its weight in dietary protein. · 70 times its weight in dietary fat. Pan 10X is, of course, twice the strength. Enteric coated pancreatin tablets were used as digestive aids for a number years before clinical trials showed the tablets to be more effective when the enteric coating was removed and the tablets crushed and administered in capsule form.(1) Pan 5X and Pan 10X are supplied as powdered supplements in capsule form. It is important to note that the functionality of pancreatic enzymes is enhanced by other enzyme systems including salivary amylase, gastric pepsin and intestinal saccharides. Oral Supplements Increase Enzyme Activity to Nearly Normal in Cases of Pancreatic Insufficiency In a study on the therapeutic response to oral enzymes in severe pancreatic insufficiency, researchers concluded that "...the administration of these high potency digestive aids, along with meals, does have a very positive clinical influence on reducing malabsorption through improved digestion - when comparing a healthy pancreatic insufficiency, the use of pancreatin with meals greatly increases the fat-splitting enzymes activity in the duodenum to nearly normal levels."(3) Oral enzyme supplements have been effectively used therapeutically in cases of: · Food allergies. · Toxic bowel syndrome resulting from overgrowth of gastrointestinal bacteria.(3) · Inflammation resulting from trauma,(5) arthritis or allergy. · Malabsorption caused by pancreatic insufficiency resulting from cystic fibrosis, alcoholism or surgical resection of portions of the pancreas(1) or high fat diet.(2) · Pancreatectomy or chronic pancreatitis. · Systemic parasities. · Enhancement of B-12 absorption. Of the myriad of approximately 30 identified pancreatic enzymes present in Pan 5X and Pan 10X, amylase, lipase and protease are considered to be of greatest physiological importance. · Pancreatic amylase digests starch, dextrins and glycogen, converting them to maltose, a disaccharide. · Pancreatic lipase hydrolyzes dietary fats, splitting them into glycerol and fatty acids. · Pancreatic protease is made up of a mixture of proteolytic enzymes including trypsin, chymotrypsin, carboxypeptidase and elastase. These enzymes initiate the digestion of large protein molecules and fragements, splitting them into still smaller fragments. Proteolytic enzymes have also been shown to reduce inflamtion and speed healing in soft tissue injuries.(5) Pan 5X and Pan 10x were designed primarily as digestive aids. Effective Therapeutic Use of Enzyme Supplements Effective enzyme therapy requires the administration of sufficient quantities of replacement enzymes. The in vitro activity can be related directly to in vivo potency.(1) Pan 5X is a potent and effective digestive aid. Our most potent supplement, Pan 10X may be used for inflammation and digestive support in acute or serve cases of pancreatic insufficiency, but should not be used for prolonged periods by persons with healthy, normally functioning pancreas. Gastric acidity and possibly low duodenal pH may interfere with effective enzymes replacement in some patients. For these patients, the addition of an antacid may be indicated. The pH barrier is usually not a grave problem because hyperacidity is rare in patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficient; whereas, hypochlorhydria and achlorhydria are common findings.(1) High fat diets inhibit pancreatic enzymes utilization, which is one of the main causes of protein malabsorption;(2) therefore, supplements will be more effective if a low fat diet is followed. Used as a digestive aid, pancreatic enzymes supplements should be taken with meals or at the end of a meal. Proteolytic enzymes used for inflammation or to reduce swelling and speed healing in soft tissue injuries should be taken between meals, on an empty stomach, for maximum effectiveness. References 1. Graham, David Y., M.D., "Enzyme Replacement Therapy of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficency in Man", New England Journal of Medicine, 296:1314-1317, June 9, 1977. 2. Bland, Jeffrey, Ph.D., "Glandular Based Food Supplements: Helping to Separate Fact from Fiction", University of Puget Sound, 1980. 3. DiMagno, E.P., "Comparative Effects of Antacids, Climetidine and Enteric Coating on the Therapeutic Response to Oral Enzymes in Severe Pancreatic Insufficiency", New England Journal of Medicine, 297:854-858, October 20, 1977. 4. Gyr, K., Felsenfeld, O. and Zimmerli-Ning, M/, "The Effect of Oral Pancreatic Enzymes on the Intestinal Flora of Protein Deficient Vervet Monkeys challenged with Vibiro Cholerae," American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 32:1952, 1979. 5. Cichoke, Anthony J, D.C., "The use of Proteolytic Enzymes with soft Tissue Athletic Injuries", The American Chiropractor, page 32, September / October, 1981. |
