Evidence supporting the use of: Protease
For the body system: Small Intestines

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Protease is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the digestion of proteins in the small intestine. The pancreas produces proteases such as trypsin and chymotrypsin, which are secreted into the small intestine to break down dietary proteins into peptides and amino acids, facilitating their absorption. Scientific evidence supports the use of protease supplementation in certain contexts, particularly for individuals with pancreatic insufficiency or digestive disorders where endogenous enzyme production is compromised. Clinical studies have demonstrated that supplemental proteases can improve protein digestion and nutrient absorption in these populations.

However, in healthy individuals with normal pancreatic function, the benefits of exogenous protease supplementation are less clear. Limited evidence suggests potential use for conditions such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, cystic fibrosis, or after pancreatic surgery, where digestive enzyme support is medically indicated. There is little high-quality evidence supporting routine protease supplementation in the general population for digestive health.

Overall, while the physiological role of protease in supporting small intestine digestion is well-established and there is moderate scientific support for its supplemental use in specific clinical situations, routine use in healthy individuals lacks strong scientific validation.

More about protease
More about Small Intestines

Other ingredients that support Small Intestines

2'-Fucosyllactose
Acemannan
Agrimonia pilosa
Alchemilla
Alchornea
Algal protein
Aloe vera
alpha-galactosidase
Alpha-glycans
amino acids
aminopeptidase
amylase
animal protein
arabinoxylan
ashitaba
asparagus
Asteraceae
Bacillus
bacillus clausii
bacillus coagulans
Bacillus indicus
Bacillus licheniformis
bacillus subtilis
bacteria
bael
bayberry
bee products
berberine
Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Bifidobacterium animalis
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium breve
Bifidobacterium infantis
Bifidobacterium lactis
Bifidobacterium longum
bile
bile acid
bile salt
bitter principals
black seed
Boerhavia diffusa
bottle gourd
bran
Brassica
broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Buckwheat
butternut
butyrate triglyceride
butyric acid
cape aloe
caprylic acid
carrot
carvacrol
cayenne pepper
Centella triterpenes
chia seed
chickpea protein
chicory
Chitin-Glucan Complex
Cinnamomum
cinnamon
Citrus
Clostridium butyricum
colostrum
corktree
cowpea
cruciferous
curry leaf
Debaryomyces hansenii
diamine oxidase
dioscorea
egg
Egg protein
electrolytes blend (proprietary)
endo-peptidase
Enterococcus
enzyme blend
enzymes blend (proprietary)
Eucheuma
exo-peptidase
fatty acids
fennel
fenugreek
fiber
fiber blend (proprietary)
fig
fish
flavones
flavonoids
flavonols
flaxseed
folate
Foxtail millet
fringetree
fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
fruit
fungal enzymes blend (proprietary)
fungal protease
galactooligosaccharides
galactosidase
ginger
Glucooligosaccharides
glucose
Glutamine
Glutenase
Glycomacropeptides
Glycyrrhizin
goldthread
green banana
green tea
Gymnema
Gymnema sylvestre
herbal blend (proprietary)
honey
immunoglobin G
Immunoglobulin G
intrinsic factor
inulin
isomalto-oligosaccharide
kale
Kefir
kiwi
Kluyveromyces lactis
Kluyveromyces marxianus
Konjac
l-5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine salt (5-MTHF)
L-alanyl-L-glutamine
L-glutamine
L. lactis
lactalbumin
lactase
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus bulgaricus
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus fermentum
Lactobacillus gasseri
Lactobacillus helveticus
Lactobacillus johnsonii
Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens
Lactobacillus kefiri
Lactobacillus paracasei
Lactobacillus pentosus
Lactobacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus reuteri
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Lactobacillus sakei
Lactobacillus salivarius
Lactococcus casei
Lactococcus lactis
Lactococcus rhamnosus
Lactoferrin
Legume protein
lemon
Lentil
lingzhi
lipase
lipids
magnesium
maltase
mannans
Marshmallow
Matapalo Tree
medium chain triglycerides (MCT)
Microbial enzymes (proprietary)
Milk Protein
Millet
millet seed
Mimosa
Mineral ascorbate
Monounsaturated fat
Mucilage
Mung bean
Mushroom
N-acetyl-glucosamine
Nigella seed
okra
Oligosaccharides
ox bile
Paenibacillus polymyxa
pancreatin
papaya
parsley
pear
Pediococcus acidilactici
Pediococcus pentosaceus
Peptidase
peptidase (DPPIV)
Peptides
phaseolamin
phellodendron amurense
phenolic compounds
phospholipids
Phyllanthus
phytase
Piperine
polyphenols
polysaccharides
Portulaca
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
probiotics
prolyl endopeptidase (PEP)
Propionibacterium freudenreichii
protease
protein
proteolytic enzymes
Pterocarpus marsupium
pu-er tea
pumpkin
purslane
rice
rockweed
Saccharomyces boulardii
Salacia
Salmon Oil
Sargassum
Scimitar bean
seaweed
Slippery Elm
slippery elm bark
Soy Protein
soybean
Spelt
spinach
streptococcus thermophilus
sucrase
sulforaphane glucosinolate
Tagatose
Taka amylase
Terpenoids
Tiger Nut
trace minerals
tributyrin
turmeric
vitamin A
vitamin B
vitamin D
vitamin D3
Watermelon
xylooligosaccharides
Yacon
Yarrow
Zinc

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