The best digestive enzymes from recommended brands in 2026!

Discover 5 suggestions for proven digestive enzyme supplements to support the digestive system and enjoy good health and well-being.

The process of digesting food is complex and takes up to several hours. Proper digestion plays a key role in maintaining the health of the whole body and also improves wellbeing. Carbohydrates and fats broken down during digestion provide the body with the energy it needs for muscle work and tissue regeneration. Amino acids from digested proteins are used to build and repair tissues and to produce enzymes, hormones and other important biochemical compounds. Digestion also helps to remove metabolic by-products, which in turn enables the body to detoxify and maintain intestinal health. Efficient and proper digestion is hugely influenced by the digestive enzymes present at each stage of digestion in all parts of the digestive system. In the following article, you will learn exactly what digestive enzymes are, what types they are and what they are responsible for. You will also learn about suggestions for five proven digestive enzyme supplements.

The digestive system - how does digestion work?

The digestive process involves breaking down proteins, fats and carbohydrates into simpler compounds (amino acids, simple sugars, fatty acids) and then absorbing them together with vitamins, mineral salts and water. This allows the body to effectively assimilate the necessary nutrients from food.

Digestion of food begins in the mouth and involves breaking it down into small portions. This gives the digestive enzymes involved in the digestive processes better access in the subsequent stages of digestion.

From the mouth, the shredded food is transported to the oesophagus, where it passes into the stomach with the help of smooth muscles. In the stomach, the food is broken down by the action of the digestive juices. From the stomach, the food content passes into the intestines to be broken down there.

In the small intestine and duodenum, carbohydrates are fully digested and in the duodenum, fats are broken down. The intestinal mucosa absorbs the nutrients, which then enter the blood and nourish the body.

Undigested and unabsorbed food residues enter the large intestine and are excreted from the body.

The digestive process is assisted by the digestive glands, which include:

• - salivary glands - produce the saliva needed to break down food. In addition, saliva, thanks to its antimicrobial action, prevents the multiplication of bacteria.
• - liver - produces bile, which is essential for the digestion of fats,
• - pancreas - secretes digestive enzymes necessary for the digestion of fats, proteins and starches.

Digestive enzymes play a key role in the entire digestive process.

Digestive enzymes - what are they?

Digestive enzymes are a group of mainly proteinaceous substances naturally found in the human body. They are involved in the entire digestive process and make it possible to break down complex substances present in food into simple chemical compounds. This ensures proper absorption of nutrients from the digestive tract into the blood and their utilisation by the body's tissues.

Thanks to digestive enzymes, of which there are several types, it is possible to digest different types of food. This is because not every nutrient is digested with equal efficiency. Digestive enzymes are responsible for breaking down individual components. For example, some enzymes break down starch from bread to form glucose, others break down protein from meat to amino acids, and still others break down fats to glycerol.

The most important digestive enzymes include:

Amylases - enzymes produced by salivary glands located in the mouth, where the process of carbohydrate digestion begins. Amylases break down polysaccharides (starch and glycogen) into disaccharides, which are easier to digest by further sections of the digestive tract. Amylases are also present in the pancreas. Amylases include alpha-amylase and beta-amylase.

Lipases - are produced in the pancreas and stomach and break down dietary fats and triglycerides to fatty acids, and to glycerol.

Lactases - digestive enzymes that enable the digestion oflactose present in human and cow's milk. They cause it to be broken down into two substances, glucose and galactose. In some people, the production of lactase is inhibited. The result is lactose intolerance manifested by abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhoea after consuming milk.

Proteases - are produced in the stomach and are mainly responsible for protein digestion. The best sources of proteases include papaya (source of papain) and pineapple (source of bromelain), but also mangoes and avocados. Other examples of proteases include pepsin, trypsin and chymotrypsin.

Saccharases - present in the gut, break down sucrose into two sugar molecules: glucose and fructose.

Glucoamylase - breaks down glycogen and starch into glucose.

Cellulases - help break down cellulose, a component of plant fibre, into simpler sugars

Digestive enzyme deficiencies

When the digestive system is dysfunctional, deficiencies of the above-mentioned digestive enzymes can occur. This leads to an incorrect breakdown of the ingested ingredients and can result in a number of discomforts such as

• - abdominal pains,
• - flatulence,
• - nausea,
• - diarrhoea,
• - constipation,
• - chronic fatigue,
• - weight loss.

These complaints may be aggravated by the consumption of certain foods, rich in substances that the body is unable to digest properly. It is worth remembering that the symptoms mentioned above may also result from other conditions. Therefore, they require diagnosis in order to identify their causes and implement appropriate treatment.

How to deal with a digestive enzyme deficiency?

The best way to correct a deficiency of digestive enzymes is to follow a healthy diet combined with regular physical activity. You can also reach for preparations containing digestive enzymes and stimulating their production. Enzyme supplements should also include herbs that support digestive processes, such as fennel, artichoke extract, mint or dandelion. In addition, it is worth enriching your diet with pineapple, papaya, mango, avocado, grapes, natural honey, fermented dairy products, ginger, parsley, aniseed or coriander, which are natural sources of digestive enzymes.

Digestive enzymes - who are they for?

Digestive enzyme supplements can be taken for a wide range of ailments. They are most often recommended for people with digestive problems such as bloating, a feeling of heaviness after a meal, heartburn or irregular bowel movements.

Digestive enzymes can be extremely helpful for people with lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance or other food intolerances. The elderly, in whom enzyme production is declining, can also experience the beneficial effects of digestive enzyme supplementation.

Digestive enzymes can also help treat conditions such as pancreatic insufficiency or gastro-oesophageal reflux.

People who have problems absorbing nutrients from food should also support themselves with enzyme supplementation. This can significantly improve the health of the body as a whole and benefit wellbeing.

However, pregnant and breastfeeding women and those who are allergic to any of the supplement's ingredients should refrain from taking digestive enzymes.

Before taking digestive enzyme supplements, consult your doctor. A specialist will help select the correct dosage and type of supplement. If you take too many enzymes, they may increase the production of uric acid-forming enzymes. This situation may in turn result in kidney or joint problems.

What are the effects of using digestive enzymes?

The main benefits of using digestive enzymes include improved digestive function and proper absorption of nutrients into the body. Regular consumption of enzyme supplements can eliminate problems with indigestion, abdominal pain, bloating or other gastrointestinal complaints.

In addition, enzyme supplementation can reduce unpleasant discomforts associated with food intolerance. Enzymes can be useful to support the treatment of certain digestive diseases such as pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

How to use digestive enzyme supplements correctly?

Digestive enzymes are taken orally usually in the form of capsules or tablets. When using these preparations, it is important to remember to consume them shortly before a meal.

Effective daily doses of enzymes are not established. Always follow your doctor's recommendations or the manufacturer's guidelines on the packaging.

It is important to remember that excessive consumption of enzymes can contribute to health complications and digestive complaints. Therefore, moderation and common sense should be exercised during supplementation.

What to look out for when choosing a digestive enzyme supplement?