THE
HEALING POWER OF PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES
Introduction
Proteolytic
enzymes (or proteases) refer to the various enzymes that
digest (break down into smaller units) protein. These enzymes
include the pancreatic proteases chymotrypsin and trypsin,
bromelain (pineapple enzyme), papain (papaya enzyme), fungal
proteases, and Serratia peptidase (the “silk worm” enzyme).
Preparations
of proteolytic enzymes have been shown to be useful in the
following situations:
Cancer
Digestion support
Fibrocystic breast disease
Food allergies
Hardening
of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
Hepatitis
C
Herpes zoster (shingles)
Inflammation, sports injuries and trauma Pancreatic insufficiency
Multiple sclerosis Rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune
disorders Sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease
Proteolytic enzymes in cancer therapy
Proteolytic
enzymes have a long history of use in cancer treatment.
In 1906, John Beard, a Scottish embryologist, reported on
the successful treatment of cancer using a pancreatic extract
in his book The Enzyme Treatment of Cancer and its Scientific
Basis.
Proteolytic
enzymes have been promoted by numerous alternative cancer
practitioners for many years, but most recently by Nicholas
Gonzalez, M.D., who is evaluating the benefit of proteolytic
enzymes in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer in a
large-scale study, funded by the National Institute of Health's
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine,
with collaboration from the National Cancer Institute. This
larger trial is a follow-up to a smaller study that showed
dramatic improvements in these patients.1
What
clinical research has been done with proteolytic enzymes
in cancer?
The clinical research that currently exists on proteolytic
enzymes suggests significant benefits in the treatment of
many forms of cancer.2 Specifically these studies have shown
improvements in the general condition of patients, quality
of life, and modest to significant improvements in life
expectancy. Studies have consisted of patients with cancers
of the breast lung, stomach, head and neck, ovaries, cervix,
and colon; and lymphomas and multiple myeloma.
These
studies involved the use of proteolytic enzymes in conjunction
with conventional therapy (surgery, chemotherapy and/or
radiation) indicating that proteolytic enzymes can be used
safely and effectively with these treatments.
Proteolytic
enzymes are not recommended for at least two days before
or after a surgery as they may increase the risk of bleeding.
Proteolytic
enzymes have been shown to be quite helpful in speeding
up post-surgical recovery and relieving a complication of
surgery and radiation known as lymphedema.
Are
proteolytic enzymes actually absorbed?
Yes.
One of the outdated arguments against the effectiveness
of orally administered proteolytic enzymes was that they
either got digested or they were too large to be absorbed.
Absorption
studies with the various proteolytic enzymes have confirmed
that they are absorbed intact. In fact, they appear to be
actively transported across the gut wall.3
Since
stomach acid can destroy proteolytic enzymes, the best formulas
are “enteric coated” – meaning that the pills have a coating
around them to prevent the pill from being broken down in
the stomach.
An
enteric-coated pill passes into the small intestine, where
due to the pH change it will break down there.
Can
taking proteolytic enzymes actually improve digestion?
Yes,
in fact, using enzyme preparations to support proper digestive
function is used in conventional medicine in cases of pancreatic
insufficiency and cystic fibrosis (a rare inherited disorder).
Pancreatic
insufficiency is characterized by impaired digestion, malabsorption,
nutrient deficiencies, and abdominal discomfort.
Do
the proteolytic enzymes digest blood proteins?
NO!
There are special factors in the blood that block the enzymes
so that they do not digest blood proteins.
How
do the proteolytic enzymes help autoimmune conditions like
rheumatoid arthritis?
The
benefits in some inflammatory conditions appears to be related
to helping the body breakdown immune complexes formed between
antibodies produced by the immune system and the compounds
they bind to (antigens).
Conditions associated with high levels of immune complexes
in the blood are often referred to as “autoimmune diseases”
and include such diseases as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus,
scleroderma, and multiple sclerosis.
Higher
levels of circulating immune complexes are also seen in
ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and AIDS.4-6
What
other conditions might proteolytic enzymes be helpful for?
The
list of conditions benefited by pancreatic enzyme supplementation
seems to be growing all the time. For example, one potential
use is in the treatment of viral related illness including
hepatitis C and herpes simplex infections.
For
example, in one study in the treatment of herpes zoster
(shingles) an orally administered proteolytic enzyme preparation
was more effective than the standard drug therapy (acyclovir).8
In
a study in patients with hepatitis C, proteolytic enzymes
were shown to be slightly superior to alpha-interferon in
improving laboratory values and symptoms.9
Proteolytic
enzymes also appear to be quite helpful in recovery from
surgery, fibrocystic breast disease, acute and chronic sinusitis
and bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
and asthma.10-13
What
proteolytic enzyme product do you recommend?
In
order to get the most out of proteolytic enzymes it is essential
to use a high quality product at an adequate dosage. To
judge the quality of an enzyme preparation it is important
to know what you are looking for.
Most
of the proteolytic enzymes have well established guidelines
developed by the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) or the
Food Chemical Codex (FCC). The product that I recommend
contains the following ingredients per enteric-coated tablet.
It is more than twice as potent as other popular preparations:
Pancreatin
(8X) 200 mg.
Papain (30,000 USP/mg) 120 mg.
Peptizyme SP (200,000 SPU/g) 52 mg.
Bromelain (1,200 MCU/g) 50 mg.
Pancreatin
refers to pancreatic enzyme preparations prepared from fresh
hog pancreas. The two primary proteases of pancreatin are
chymotrypsin and trypsin (also available from ox bile).
Papain
and bromelain are proteolytic derived from papaya and pineapple,
respectively.
Peptizyme
SP (a special serrapeptase) is derived from a bacteria that
resides in the intestines of silk worms. It is also called
“silk worm”
enzyme as it is the enzyme used to breakdown the cocoon
of the silk worm.
The
Miracle Enzyme
Dr.
Han’s Nieper, a legendary medical doctor known for his extensive
use of proteolytic enzymes, called serrapeptase the “Miracle
Enzyme.”
Dr.
Nieper used the enzyme primarily to open up clogged arteries
supplying the brain.
This
enzyme is more powerful than the pancreatic enzymes chymotrypsin
and trypsin. It has been used in Europe and Japan for over
25 years. As evident in Table 1, good clinical results have
been demonstrated in clinical trials.
In
addition to its general anti-inflammatory effects, it is
particularly beneficial in fibrocystic breast disease as
well as upper respiratory tract conditions like sinusitis,
bronchitis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
due to its ability to improve the structure and function
of the mucus lining.10-13
Table
1. Clinical results from trials with the “Miracle Enzyme”
Condition Cases % Effectiveness
Post-surgical
swelling 742 88.5%
Sports injuries/trauma 208 87.5%
Inflammatory disease 906 77%
COPD/Bronchitis 556 74%
Enhancement of antibiotic 124 79%
ENT infection and inflammation 140 97.3% Fibrocystic breast
disease 70 85.7%
What
is the proper dosage of proteolytic enzymes?
The
typical dosage for the formula listed above is one to three
capsules 10-20 minutes before meals or on an empty stomach
when non-digestive effects are desired.
If
it is being taken for digestive support, then it can be
taken just before meals.
Are
proteolytic enzymes preparations safe?
Proteolytic
enzymes are generally well-tolerated and are not associated
with any significant side effects. Even in people with presumably
normal pancreatic function, taking proteolytic enzymes produced
no untoward side effects nor did it reduce the capacity
for these subjects to produce their own pancreatic enzymes.14
However, my recommendation is to utilize these preparations
only when there is apparent need.
Although
no significant side effects have been noted with any of
the proteolytic enzymes, allergic reactions may occur (as
with most therapeutic agents).
Pancreatic
enzymes should not be used by anyone allergic to pork; bromelain
should not be used in anyone allergic to pineapple; and
papain should not be used in anyone sensitive to papaya.
References:
Gonzalez
NJ, Isaacs LL: Evaluation of pancreatic proteolytic enzyme
treatment of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, with nutrition
and detoxification support. Nutr Cancer 1999;33:117-24.
Leipner J, Saller R: Systemic enzyme therapy in oncology:
effect and mode of action. Drugs. 2000;59:769-80.
Ambrus JL, et al.: Absorption of exogenous and endogenous
proteolytic enzymes. Clin Pharmacol Therap 1967;8:362-8.
Mazurov VI, et al. Beneficial effects of concomitant oral
enzymes in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Int J
Tiss React 1997;19:91.
Ransberger K: Enzyme treatment of immune complex diseases.
Arthritis Rheuma 1986;8:16-9.
Steffen C, et al.: Enzyme therapy in comparison with immune
complex determinations in chronic polyarteritis. Rheumatologie
1985;44:51-6.
Ransberger K, van Schaik W: Enzyme therapy in multiple sclerosis.
Der Kassenarzt 1986;41:42-5.
Kleine MW, et al.: The intestinal absorption of orally administered
hydrolytic enzymes and their effects in the treatment of
acute herpes zoster as compared with those of oral acyclovir
therapy. Phytomedicine 1995;2:7-15.
Kabil SM, Stauder G: Oral enzyme therapy in hepatitis C
patients. Int J Tiss React 1997;19:97-8.
Esch PM, Gerngross H, Fabian A: Reduction of postoperative
swelling.
Objective measurement of swelling of the upper ankle joint
in treatment with serrapeptase-a prospective study (German).
Fortschr Med.
1989;107(4):67-8, 71-2.
Kee WH, et al.: The treatment of breast engorgement with
Serrapeptase
(Danzen): a randomized double-blind controlled trial. Singapore
Med J 1989;30(1):48-54.
Mazzone A, et al.: Evaluation of Serratia peptidase in acute
or chronic inflammation of otorhinolaryngology pathology:
a multicentre, double-blind, randomized trial versus placebo.
J Int Med Res 1990; 18(5):379-88.
Majima Y, et al.: The effect of an orally administered proteolytic
enzyme on the elasticity and viscosity of nasal mucus. Arch
Otorhinolaryngol. 1988;244(6):355-9.
Friess H, et al.: Influence of high-dose pancreatic enzyme
treatment on pancreatic function in healthy volunteers.
Int J Pancreatol
1998;23:115-23
