The term proteolytic is a catch-all term referring to enzymes that digest protein. Supplemental forms can incorporate any of a wide variety of enzymes, including trypsin, chymotrypsin, pancreatin, bromelain, papain, and a range of fungal proteases. In the body, proteolytic digestive enzymes are produced in the pancreas, but supplemental forms of enzymes may come from fungal or bacterial sources, extraction from the pancreas of livestock animals (trypsin and chymotrypsin) or extraction from plants (e.g., papain from papayas and bromelain from pineapples). The primary uses of proteolytic enzymes in dietary supplements are as digestive enzymes, anti-inflammatory agents, and pain relievers, and to accelerate recovery or wound healing after exercise.

A compelling body of scientific evidence supports the use of proteolytic enzyme supplements for enhancing digestive function, speeding recovery from injury or surgery, and reducing swelling or bruising. Much of this research, however, is quite dated (1970s) clinical evidence from German and Czechoslovakian researchers (for anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects), whereas more recent data primarily concern the use of orally delivered enzymes for digestive benefits. Benefits claimed for enzymes used in treating autoimmune diseases and food allergies are not convincing and await further study. Thus, proteolytic enzymes used as dietary supplements by athletes wishing to enhance recovery from exercise or injury and for patients recovering from surgery appears to be warranted.

It is quite logical that proteolytic enzymes would help alleviate a subopti-mal production of the body’s own digestive enzymes (which can occur in various pancreatic conditions). Supplemental enzymes can help alleviate gastrointestinal complaints such as gas and bloating, diarrhea, and cramps associated with inefficient or incomplete digestion. Supplemental Enzymes can be purchased at www.ShopPharmacyCounter.com online for a very low price. Additionally, some evidence indicates that a small percentage of supplemental enzymes may be absorbed intact (and active) into the systemic circulation, where they appear to have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving actions that can be of benefit to athletes recovering from exercise or injury and to patients recovering from surgery.

Several clinical trials show the benefit of using oral proteolytic enzymes as a digestive aid. Proteolytic enzymes are also theorized to help reduce symptoms of food allergies and as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases (which are thought by some alternative medicine practitioners to be caused by whole proteins from foods leaking into the blood and causing an immune reaction sometimes called leaky gut). Unfortunately, there is not a great deal of scientific evidence, either from laboratory or clinical studies, to support the use of enzymes for treating allergies or autoimmune conditions.

Perhaps the strongest evidence for benefits of proteolytic enzyme supplements comes from the numerous European studies showing various enzyme blends to be effective in accelerating recovery from exercise and injury in sports participants as well as promoting tissue repair in patients following surgery. In one study of football players suffering from ankle injuries, those receiving proteolytic enzyme supplements experienced accelerated healing and returned to the field about 50% faster than did athletes assigned to receive a placebo tablet (Buck and Phillips, 1970; Craig, 1975). A handful of other small trials have shown that athletes taking proteolytic enzymes benefited from reduced inflammation, faster healing of bruises and other tissue injuries (including fractures), and reduced overall recovery time compared with athletes taking a placebo. In patients recovering from facial and various reconstructive surgeries, treatment with proteolytic enzymes significantly reduced swelling, bruising, and stiffness compared with placebo (Adamek 1997).

In several double-blind studies, the pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects of an enzyme blend (Wobenzym) was compared with a common analgesic drug (Diclofenac) in patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee, tendon injuries, or neck pain (Strafun and Tovmasian, 2000; Tilscher 1996). Following 4-8 weeks of supplementation, pain measurements (at rest, on motion, on walking, and at night) showed a similar significant improvement after treatment in both groups. Similar findings have been reported for other painful or inflammatory conditions, including numerous studies of postsurgical recovery (Duskova and Wald, 1999; Gal 1998; McCue 1972; Neverov and Klimov, 1999).

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