The Healing Power of Proteolytic Enzymes

Key to Powerful Anti-Inflammatory & Immune Support

written by Dr. Michael T. Murray

Proteolytic enzymes are indicated in anti-inflammatory conditions and to support the immune system. 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
• Sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis, and autoimmune disorders chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

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

How are Proteolytic enzymes used 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.

How do Proteolytic enzymes work to fight cancer?

Once absorbed the body prevents digestion of proteins in the blood and other body tissues producing antiproteases. The production of these antiproteases is critical to the mechanism of action of proteolytic enzymes. These antiproteinases block the invasiveness of tumor cells as well as prevent the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis). Proteolytic enzymes exert a number of other interesting anticancer mechanisms including the inhibition of metastasis (the spread of cancer) and the enhancement of the immune response.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; 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.

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 alphainterferon 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

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.

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.

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.

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. Hans 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

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

1. Rubinstein E, et al.: Antibacterial activity of the pancreatic fluid. Gastroenterol 1985;88:927-32.
2. Ambrus JL, et al.: Absorption of exogenous and endogenous proteolytic enzymes. Clin Pharmacol Therap 1967;8:362-8.
3. Kabacoff BB, et al.: Absorption of chymotrypsin from the intestinal tract. Nature 1963;199:815-7.
4. Martin GJ, et al.: Further in vivo observations with radioactive trypsin. Am J Pharm 1964;129:386-92.
5. Avakian S: Further studies on the absorption of chymotrypsin. Clin Pharmacol Therap 1964;5:712-5.
6. Liebow C and Rothman SS: Enteropancreatic circulation of digestive enzymes. Science 1975;189:472-4.
7. Oelgoetz AW, et al.: The treatment of food allergy and indigestion of pancreatic origin with pancreatic enzymes. Am J Dig Dis Nutr 1935;2:422-6.
8. Carroccio A, et al.: Pancreatic enzyme therapy in childhood celiac disease. A double-blind prospective randomized study. Dig Dis Sci 1995;40:2555-2560.
9. Innerfield I: Enzymes in Clinical Medicine. McGraw Hill, New York, 1960.
10. Mazurov VI, et al. Beneficial effects of concomitant oral enzymes in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Int J Tiss React 1997;19:91.
11. Ransberger K: Enzyme treatment of immune complex diseases. Arthritis Rheuma 1986;8:16-9.
12. Steffen C, et al.: Enzyme therapy in comparison with immune complex determinations in chronic polyarteritis. Rheumatologie 1985;44:51-6.
13. Ransberger K and van Schaik W: Enzyme therapy in multiple sclerosis. Der Kassenarzt 1986;41:42-5.
14. Gonzalez NJ and Isaacs LL: Evaluation of pancreatic proteolytic enzyme treatment of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, with nutrition and detoxification support. Nutr Cancer 1999;33:117-24.
15. Leipner J and Saller R: Systemic enzyme therapy in oncology: effect and mode of action. Drugs. 2000;59:769- 80.
16. Kleine MW, Stauder GM and Beese EW: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.
17. Kabil SM and Stauder G: Oral enzyme therapy in hepatitis C patients. Int J Tiss React 1997;19:97-8.
18. Schneider, MU, Knoll-Ruzicka ML, Domschke S, et al: Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy: Comparative effects of conventional and enteric-coated microspheric pancreatin and acid-stable fungal enzyme preparations on steatorrhea in chronic pancreatitis. Hepatogastroenterol 1985;32:97-102.
19. Friess H, et al.:Influence of high-dose pancreatic enzyme treatment on pancreatic function in healthy volunteers. Int J Pancreatol 1998;23:115-23.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.