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Dge8.5
Digestive Enzymes Research
Likely helpsHigh safety
19 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Digestive Enzymes appears to help in 6 of 6 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 2006–2026 with a typical study size of 52 participants.
Based on 19 studies · 2 meta-analyses · 10 RCTs · 1,108 total participants
Confidence
High
What the studies found
6helped· 13 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Pancreatic insufficiency & GI symptomsReduced bloating and improved food tolerance within 1-2 weeks · 1-2 weeks
Likely helps15 studies
Therapeutic & clinical
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Safety profile
Mostly mechanism / observational3 studies
Glucose & metabolic
Too few graded studies2 studies
By the numbers
Pulled from 14 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
100%
across studies
People studied
1,108
typical study: 52 people
Strongest designs
12
2 pooled, 10 randomised
Showed benefit
100%
6/6 studies
How long studies ran
3+ months
3
Populations Studied
Patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic surgery2
Chronic pancreatitis patients1
Children with ASD1
Functional dyspepsia patients1
Active research area
8 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2026
200620162026
1Coefficient of fat absorptionMeta-AnalysisCited 140×n=511 · large study2017
PERT is indicated to correct EPI and malnutrition in CP and may be improved by higher doses, enteric coating, administration during food and acid suppression.
de la Iglesia-García D et al. · Gut (2017)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
PERT improved CFA compared with baseline (83.7±6.0 vs 63.1±15.0, p<0.00001; I2=89%) and placebo (83.2±5.5 vs 67.4±7.0, p=0.0001; I2=86%).
PERT is indicated to correct EPI and malnutrition in CP and may be improved by higher doses, enteric coating, administration during food and acid suppression.
Further studies are required to determine optimal regimens, the impact of health inequalities and long-term effects on nutrition.
This systematic-review examined the effects of Digestive Enzymes.
Doherty M et al. · Journal of autism and developmental disorders (2025)
The results of this systematic review identified that for autistic people, vitamin and mineral supplements may only be of benefit if there is a deficiency.
The results also found that the main interventions used were dietary interventions and nutraceuticals, including targeted supplements, vitamins and minerals, omega 3 s and prebiotics, probiotics and digestive enzymes.
Therapeutic intervention, which may consist of supplementation of pancreatic enzymes and/or vitamins in aged individuals with proven exocrine pancreas insufficiency, could contribute to healthy ageing.
Löhr JM et al. · Journal of internal medicine (2018)
Five per cent of people older than 70 years and ten per cent older than 80 years have pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) with a faecal elastase-1 below 200 μg g-1 stool, and 5% have severe PEI with faecal elastase-1 below 100 μg g-1 stool.
Malnutrition consists of deficits of fat-soluble vitamins and is affecting both patients with PEI and the elderly.
Secondary consequences may include decreased bone mineral density and results from impaired absorption of fat-soluble vitamin D due to impaired pancreatic exocrine function.
6BCR::ABL1 molecular responseRCTCited 48×n=115 · medium study2023
This rct examined the effects of Digestive Enzymes.
Mauro MJ et al. · Leukemia (2023)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
After ≈4-year median exposure, 69.6% of patients remained on asciminib.
Clinical pancreatitis and arterial occlusive events (AOEs) occurred in 7.0% and 8.7%, respectively.
By data cutoff, among patients without the indicated response at baseline, 61.3% achieved BCR::ABL1 ≤ 1%, 61.6% achieved ≤0.1% (major molecular response [MMR]), and 33.7% achieved ≤0.01% on the International Scale.
The results showed an improvement in NDI-SF1, NDI-SF2-5, VAS, and PSQI scores in subjects treated with the multi-enzyme blend, indicating an improvement in quality of life and of sleep, and a decre...
Ullah H et al. · Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (2023)
The results showed an improvement in NDI-SF1, NDI-SF2-5, VAS, and PSQI scores in subjects treated with the multi-enzyme blend, indicating an improvement in quality of life and of sleep, and a decreased severity of pain, following the supplementation with digestive enzymes, without side effects.
In conclusion, treatment with digestive enzymes was found to be effective in the reduction of functional dyspepsia symptoms and in the improvement of sleep quality, and is well-tolerated.
8Fat and protein absorptionRCTCited 19×n=36 · small study2016
Pancrelipase improved fat and protein absorption in patients with EPI due to chronic pancreatitis or pancreatectomy, with or without DM, and matched the safety profile previously reported.
Whitcomb DC et al. · Pancreas (2016)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
Mean changes in nutrient absorption were greater with pancrelipase versus placebo in patients with DM (CFA, 36.0% vs 7.5%, P < 0.0001; CNA, 33.4% vs 3.7%, P = 0.0002) and without DM (CFA, 25.2% vs 12.3%, P = 0.0326; CNA, 39.1% vs 17.6%, P = 0.1187).
Diabetes mellitus was not significantly associated with outcomes for CFA (P = 0.0802) and CNA (P = 0.2934).
Pancrelipase improved fat and protein absorption in patients with EPI due to chronic pancreatitis or pancreatectomy, with or without DM, and matched the safety profile previously reported.
9Weight gain and stool frequencyRCTCited 84×n=51 · small study2011
Pancrelipase was well tolerated over 6 months and resulted in statistically significant weight gain and reduced stool frequency in patients with EPI due to CP or PS previously managed with standard PERT.
Gubergrits N et al. · Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics (2011)
The mean age was 50.9 years, 70.6% of patients were male, 76.5% had CP and 23.5% had undergone PS.
TEAEs were reported by 22 patients (43.1%) overall.
Only four patients (7.8%) had TEAEs that were considered treatment related.
10Nonverbal intellectual ability improvementRCTCited 131×n=67 · small study2018
Parents reported that the vitamin/mineral supplements, essential fatty acids, and HGCSF diet were the most beneficial.
Adams JB et al. · Nutrients (2018)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
There was a significant improvement in nonverbal intellectual ability in the treatment group compared to the non-treatment group (+6.7 ± 11 IQ points vs. -0.6 ± 11 IQ points, p = 0.009) based on a blinded clinical assessment.
Based on semi-blinded assessment, the treatment group, compared to the non-treatment group, had significantly greater improvement in autism symptoms and developmental age.
The treatment group had significantly greater increases in EPA, DHA, carnitine, and vitamins A, B2, B5, B6, B12, folic acid, and Coenzyme Q10.
11nutritional status and pancreatic functionSystematic Review2026
de Pretis N et al. · European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology (2026)
Not only pancreatic secretions but also the interaction between exocrine and endocrine pancreatic function have relevance on nutritional status, and there is increasing evidence that nutritional status impacts the prognosis of both inflammatory and pancreatic neoplastic diseases of the pancreas.
Signs of malnutrition need to be investigated and identified in patients with pancreatic diseases to optimize the medical management and, potentially, to improve the clinical outcome.
While further research of herbs/spices is undeniably warranted, several considerations should be kept in mind.
Diacova T et al. · Nutrition reviews (2026)
While further research of herbs/spices is undeniably warranted, several considerations should be kept in mind.
These include the relatively small amounts of herbs/spices consumed by the general population on a daily basis, cooking methods, as well as effects of digestive/metabolic processes on the bioavailability of herb/spice (poly)phenols.
While much is already known, there are still substantial gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed.
15Fat and nitrogen maldigestionRCTCited 149×n=25 · very small study2010
Pancrelipase delayed-release 12,000-lipase unit capsules were effective in treating fat and nitrogen maldigestion with a TEAE rate similar to that of placebo in patients with EPI due to CP or PS.
Whitcomb DC et al. · The American journal of gastroenterology (2010)
Huge benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
In total, 25 patients (median age of 54 years, 76% male) received pancrelipase and 29 patients (median age of 50 years, 69% male) received placebo.
Th e mean ± s.d. change from baseline in CFA was significantly greater with pancrelipase vs. placebo: 31.9 ± 18.6 vs. 8.7 ± 12.4 % ( P < 0.0001) [corrected].
Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported in five patients (20.0%) in the pancrelipase group and in six (20.7%) in the placebo group; the most common were gastrointestinal (GI) events and metabolism/nutrition disorders.
17Fat excretionRCTCited 33×n=18 · very small study2006
EC-high-buffered pancrelipase decreased fat excretion, symbolizing improved fat absorption, when compared with EC-nonbuffered pancreatic enzymes given at equivalent, reduced (approximately 50% of usual) lipase doses in nourished subjects with cystic fibrosis and mild pulmonary disease.
Brady MS et al. · Journal of the American Dietetic Association (2006)
Large benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
Mean fat excretion decreased significantly in each subject during periods when given EC-high-buffered pancrelipase compared with periods when given EC-nonbuffered enzymes (fat excretion 18.2% vs 24.9% or fat absorption 81.8% vs 75.1%, respectively; P=0.01).
Thirteen of 18 subjects (72%) excreted less fat when receiving EC-high-buffered pancrelipase whereas 10 (56%) decreased fat excretion by more than 5%, and five subjects did not respond.
EC-high-buffered pancrelipase decreased fat excretion, symbolizing improved fat absorption, when compared with EC-nonbuffered pancreatic enzymes given at equivalent, reduced (approximately 50% of usual) lipase doses in nourished subjects with cystic fibrosis and mild pulmonary disease.