
Photo by Innerbody Research
Digestive discomfort is incredibly common. In a large national survey, more than half of U.S. adults reported weekly digestive symptoms like bloating, gas, and abdominal pain.1 With numbers like that, it’s no surprise that many people start looking for anything that might help their bodies break down food more easily.
Digestive enzyme supplements have become a popular go-to, promising relief from feeling overly full or heavy after meals, or like food just isn’t moving the way it should. But enzymes aren’t a cure-all. While research shows they can be genuinely helpful in specific situations — lactase for people with lactose intolerance, for example — benefits often depend on matching the right enzyme to the right digestive issue.2 Because formulas vary widely in strength and purpose, choosing the right one can feel more confusing than the symptoms you’re trying to fix.
This guide walks you through what digestive enzymes can and can’t do, who’s most likely to benefit, and which supplements stood out to us for quality, transparency, and real-world usefulness.
If you’re pressed for time, here’s a summary of our recommendations.
Digestive enzyme supplements generally fall into two groups:
To make it easier to scan the landscape, we’ve organized our recommendations into two sets that correspond to the two supplement types.
Our top pick for most people is a multi-enzyme blend. That’s because it offers the broadest, most versatile support for everyday meals.
These formulas include multiple enzymes, sometimes alongside probiotics, and are designed to support improved digestion of a wide range of foods.
These supplements can help if you have the specific intolerance they’re designed to address.
Triquetra’s multi-enzyme blend with research-backed probiotics and postbiotics can help reduce bloating and support sluggish digestion.
This comprehensive, full-spectrum mix of plant-based enzymes helps break down proteins, carbohydrates, fats, dairy, and fiber, while targeted probiotic and postbiotic strains support gut barrier integrity and microbial balance. It’s a great option if you experience bloating or general post-meal heaviness, and it’s our top choice for supporting digestion while taking GLP-1 medications. Third-party testing ensures quality and purity, and Triquetra’s 30-day money-back guarantee protects you if you’re dissatisfied.
Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions about staying healthy and living healthier lives.
Our investigation into digestive enzyme supplements began by examining how these enzymes function in the body and where supplementation can make a meaningful difference. We analyzed dozens of peer-reviewed studies, clinical trials, and expert reviews to understand which enzymes — from lactase to multi-enzyme blends — have the strongest evidence behind them.
From there, we evaluated the supplement landscape to identify products that align with research-backed doses, appropriate enzyme strengths, and high standards of quality and transparency. We paid close attention to safety practices, allergen disclosures, third-party testing, capsule design, and cost. We also purchased several of the most promising enzyme formulas ourselves to better assess factors like packaging, ease of use, and the overall customer experience.
As with all health-related content on this website, this guide was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy and will continue to be monitored for updates by our editorial team.
Identifying the market’s best digestive enzyme supplements meant evaluating each product on the same factors most people consider before adding a supplement to their routine:
These four pillars guided our process.
In the sections ahead, we explain how our top picks performed in these areas and where certain products stood out. All selections met a high standard overall; when we highlight an advantage, we simply mean that the product showed a particular strength in that category — not that others fell short.
Advantage: Triquetra Flora Digest
Digestive enzyme effectiveness depends heavily on what’s causing the discomfort. People often react to different parts of a meal, which is why the best product for one person may not work for another. One person might digest dairy easily, another might struggle with even a small amount of ice cream, and a third might feel discomfort only after high-fat meals.
If you know your exact trigger, a single-enzyme formula can work exceptionally well. But many people don’t have a single, consistent culprit. Instead, they experience a more general pattern of post-meal heaviness, bloating, or delayed stomach emptying — the kind of symptoms often grouped under functional dyspepsia.
In these cases, multi-enzyme blends have the strongest supporting evidence, with two placebo-controlled studies on functional dyspepsia finding that they significantly improved pain, bloating, fullness, and overall quality of life.7 8
Triquetra Flora Digest aligns closely with such research. It provides:
This combination makes Triquetra one of the strongest broad-spectrum options for general indigestion, post-meal heaviness, functional-dyspepsia-type symptoms, or slowed gastric emptying related to GLP-1 medications (drugs that mimic a gut hormone to help control blood sugar and appetite, often by slowing stomach emptying). It’s an “everyday digestion” formula rather than a product aimed at only one food type.
That said, a single-enzyme strategy can still be highly effective — especially if you know your exact trigger and want a targeted, adjustable dose. In such situations, Natural Factors Lactase Enzyme is a strong choice for dairy intolerance, while Solaray Bean Enzyme is better suited for gas caused by beans.2 3
Advantage: Natural Factors Lactase Enzyme
Safety in digestive enzyme supplements comes down to two essentials:
From there, simplicity becomes a practical advantage. Single-ingredient formulas introduce fewer variables into the digestive tract, making them easier to tolerate and easier to adjust if you’re sensitive to new supplements. Multi-enzyme blends are still safe for most people, but they naturally add more components to evaluate.
Among the products in this guide, Natural Factors Lactase Enzyme edges out the others for safety. Lactase is one of the best-studied digestive enzymes, with decades of clinical use and a strong safety record in both adults and children.11
In a randomized, double-blind lactose-challenge study, a 9,000 FCC dose significantly reduced hydrogen breath levels — a common marker of malabsorbed carbohydrate — and improved symptoms without notable adverse effects.2 (FCC stands for “Food Chemicals Codex,” an independent standard that defines enzyme activity units and ensures consistent enzyme strength across products.) Natural Factors delivers this same clinically supported dose in a minimalist capsule with very few excipients. The company also performs third-party testing through ISURA, whose ISO 9001–certified and ISO 17025–accredited labs provide a strong independent check on Natural Factors’ manufacturing quality.
Other products in this guide also offer solid safety profiles, but Natural Factors' simple formula, strong clinical safety data, and rigorous manufacturing standards hand it the lead in this category.
Advantage: Doctor’s Best Digestive Enzymes
Comparing the cost of digestive enzymes is more nuanced than it looks. Different formulas tackle different digestive problems, and some of the enzymes involved — especially those used for specific intolerances — are more expensive to produce than the basic proteases and amylases found in many broad-spectrum blends. On top of that, the bottle price is only part of the equation; bottle size, serving counts, shipping costs, and subscription discounts all affect the true monthly expense.
The chart below compares our top contenders:
From this information, a few things become clear:
Taken together, Doctor’s Best strikes the strongest balance between price, serving count, and breadth of formula. You’re getting a full 90-serving bottle, a well-rounded enzyme blend that covers proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and fiber, and a per-serving cost that significantly undercuts comparable broad-spectrum options.
Advantage: Life Extension Food Sensitivity Relief (DAO)
Convenience matters more with digestive enzymes than with many other supplement categories. People often try enzymes to address very specific digestion issues, and not every formula works the same for every person. That means return policies and customer support can make a meaningful difference when you’re figuring out which product your body responds to.
All of the capsule-based products in this guide are straightforward to take, but Life Extension stands out for a couple of practical reasons:
Because digestive enzymes can be hit-or-miss depending on your underlying symptoms, Life Extension’s unmatched return window and user-friendly subscription system make it the most convenient option overall. For anyone still determining which enzyme profile works best, that level of flexibility makes a real difference.
The chart below offers a quick reference of how our top picks compare across major areas, including servings, pricing, return policies, and testing.
Digestive enzymes are proteins your body uses to break food down into smaller, absorbable pieces.12 They act as tiny biochemical tools, each one designed to unlock a specific type of nutrient. Without them, even the most nutritious meal would move through your gut largely unused.
Your body makes most of the enzymes you need.13 They work together from the moment food enters your mouth until it reaches your small intestine, where most digestion takes place.14
Here’s a brief overview of the process:
Aside from moistening food, saliva delivers salivary amylase, an enzyme that clips long starch molecules into shorter sugars before you even swallow.14 15 16
This early step doesn’t determine a food’s entire digestive fate, but it does take some pressure off the rest of your system. It’s one reason thoroughly chewing starchy foods can make them easier to tolerate.
As food reaches the stomach, acid activates pepsin, a protein-digesting enzyme (protease) and the body’s first major player in breaking down dietary protein.15
Pepsin cuts large proteins into smaller fragments called peptides. This partial “pre-digestion” sets the stage for more complete breakdown later in the small intestine, and helps explain why low stomach acid can sometimes contribute to a feeling of fullness after protein-heavy meals.17
When food enters the small intestine, the pancreas releases a powerful blend of enzymes: amylase for carbs, lipase for fats, and protease precursors (trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen) that activate once they reach the intestine.15
These enzymes do the bulk of the digestive work. If the pancreas can’t produce enough of them — as in chronic pancreatitis or cystic fibrosis — fat and protein absorption drops sharply, often leading to bloating, nutrient deficiencies, and greasy stools.14
The lining of your small intestine has specialized cells with "brush-border" enzymes (lactase, sucrase, maltase, and isomaltase) that finish breaking sugars into glucose, galactose, and fructose — the smallest units your body can absorb.15
When one of these enzymes runs low — lactase being the classic example — intact sugars can ferment in the colon, causing symptoms like gas, bloating, and cramping.11
As digestion unfolds, your body depends on three primary classes of enzymes to handle the workload:
Though these form the core groups, each includes various subtypes — like salivary or pancreatic amylase for carbs, or lactase and sucrase for certain sugars — that collaborate to transform meals into nutrients ready for absorption.15
Digestive enzyme supplements aim to support your body's natural breakdown of food by providing extra enzymes that target specific nutrients, potentially easing issues like bloating, gas, and discomfort after meals. They work by mimicking or boosting the enzymes your digestive system already uses, helping to chop large food molecules into smaller, absorbable pieces. Think of them as reinforcements for a process that's usually efficient but can sometimes lag due to factors like age, diet, stress, and certain medical conditions.12 14
However, results can vary widely: what helps one person might not make a difference for another, depending on the underlying cause of their symptoms. For instance, if your indigestion stems from a food intolerance, a targeted enzyme might shine, but for broader gut issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), supplements alone may fall short.18
Below, we break down some common enzymes found in supplements:
Amylases, proteases, and lipases are the core enzymes your body uses to digest carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.15 19 Salivary glands, the stomach, the pancreas, and the small intestine all contribute, so most people with normal digestive function already have substantial built-in capacity to break down mixed meals.12
Supplemental versions of these enzymes usually appear together in broad-spectrum blends rather than as single-ingredient products.20 A Mayo Clinic review notes that data on over-the-counter (OTC) digestive enzyme is limited and that most trials test multi-enzyme formulas, with benefits that are statistically significant but generally modest.21 Additionally, while two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in people with functional dyspepsia found that multi-enzyme complexes including amylases, proteases, and lipase improved post-meal pain, fullness, and bloating compared with placebo, not everyone responded and average effect sizes were small.7 8 Taken together, these findings suggest that extra amylases, proteases, and lipase may be worth a cautious trial if your symptoms clearly flare after eating, but current evidence doesn’t support them as a universal solution for all digestive complaints.
Lactase breaks down lactose, the primary sugar in milk, into glucose and galactose so your small intestine can absorb it. Humans naturally make lactase in the brush border of the small intestine, but production often drops after childhood, which is why lactose intolerance is so common in adults.22
Among all digestive enzymes, lactase has some of the strongest evidence as a supplemental ingredient. Multiple randomized, double-blind trials show that taking lactase with dairy can significantly reduce hydrogen breath levels (a marker of malabsorbed carbohydrate) and symptoms like gas, bloating, and diarrhea in people with lactose intolerance.2 11 In most studies, effective doses fall roughly between 3,000 and 9,000 FCC units taken right before or with the first bites of a lactose-containing meal. Even so, results vary: some people get near-complete relief, others only partial improvement, and dose, timing, and the amount of lactose in the meal all matter. Most experts still recommend using lactase alongside practical dietary adjustments rather than expecting it to erase intolerance on its own.11
Alpha-galactosidase targets complex plant sugars like raffinose and stachyose in beans, lentils, and cruciferous vegetables. Humans don’t produce alpha-galactosidase, so these carbs often reach the colon intact, where gut bacteria ferment them into gas. In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, adding alpha-galactosidase to a bean-rich meal significantly lowered breath hydrogen and reduced flatulence severity compared to placebo.3
Supplements typically provide a few hundred to about 1,200 GalU with high-fiber meals like chili, lentil soup, or bean-heavy salads. At those doses, alpha-galactosidase can meaningfully cut gas and bloating from specific high-fiber foods for some people, but it isn’t guaranteed to help everyone, and it won’t address digestive symptoms driven by other causes.23
XI is a more specialized enzyme for people with fructose malabsorption. It converts fructose (from foods like apples, honey, or high-fructose corn syrup) into glucose, which is easier for many to absorb. Humans don’t have a dedicated enzyme to perform this conversion in the gut, so in people with fructose malabsorption, excess fructose can remain unabsorbed and trigger bloating, pain, or diarrhea.24 A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with this condition found that taking XI with a fructose load significantly reduced breath hydrogen and improved gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms.4
In these studies, participants consumed a fructose “challenge”— a standardized drink containing a set amount of fructose used to test absorption — and supplements often provided around 7,500 units taken alongside it. In real-world use, people with confirmed fructose malabsorption may find they tolerate small to moderate fructose exposures better with this enzyme, but it’s not a free pass for unlimited fructose, and those without this issue may not notice much difference at all.
Bromelain is a mix of protein-digesting enzymes (proteases) derived from pineapple stems and fruit. It’s not produced by the human body.25 Beyond its well-known anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects, clinical and preclinical studies have also examined bromelain’s role in digestion, with some evidence that it can support protein digestion, nutrient absorption, and post-meal comfort, though the data is still limited and suggests dose-dependency.5
Papain is another plant-derived protease, extracted from unripe papaya latex. Humans don’t make papain; it’s added to supplements and foods (and even meat tenderizers) because it efficiently breaks proteins down into peptides and amino acids. Evidence for digestive benefits in humans is limited but suggestive: papaya preparations containing papain have been associated with improved subjective digestion and reduced bloating in small studies, though fiber and other compounds in papaya likely contribute as well.26
Enzymes like cellulase, hemicellulase, xylanase, β-glucanase, and pectinase are often grouped as fiber-targeting enzymes because they act on components of plant cell walls.27 28 Humans don’t make most of these enzymes; instead, we rely on gut microbes to slowly ferment fibers like cellulose, hemicellulose, and β-glucans in the large intestine.29 By starting that breakdown earlier in the digestive tract, supplemental fiber-targeting enzymes are designed to make very high-fiber meals feel more comfortable and, in theory, to improve access to trapped nutrients.
Most of the solid evidence for these specific enzymes comes from animal nutrition and in vitro studies, not human clinical trials.30 Studies in poultry and pigs show that adding cellulases, xylanases, β-glucanases, and related enzymes to feed can improve fiber digestibility and, in some cases, growth performance or nutrient utilization.31 32 Human data, however, is sparse and usually limited to broader multi-enzyme products where these fiber-targeting enzymes aren’t isolated.7 8 In practice, that means some people with very fiber-sensitive digestion may notice less gas or bloating with these blends, but the science doesn’t yet support strong, predictable benefits. Thus, it’s another area where results genuinely vary.
Invertase splits sucrose (table sugar) into glucose and fructose.33 In supplements and food processing, invertase usually comes from yeast, but in your gut that job is handled by a different enzyme called sucrase–isomaltase, on the brush border of the small intestine. In rare congenital sucrase–isomaltase deficiency (CSID), this enzyme is severely reduced, and sucrose-containing foods can cause diarrhea, bloating, and pain.34
For such patients, prescription sucrase replacement (sacrosidase) has solid support: clinical trials show it helps children with CSID tolerate sucrose-containing meals with far fewer symptoms.35 OTC blends sometimes include invertase, but there’s little direct research showing meaningful benefits in people with normal sucrase–isomaltase activity. In everyday use, it’s best viewed as a minor supporting enzyme rather than a proven fix for general “sugar-related” indigestion.
Phytase breaks down phytic acid (phytate), a storage form of phosphorus in grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds that can bind minerals like iron and zinc and reduce their absorption.36 Humans and other monogastric animals (single-chambered stomachs) have limited endogenous phytase activity, which is why phytase is widely used in animal feed and food processing to unlock more phosphorus and minerals.37
Human data, while smaller, points in the same direction. Several controlled absorption studies show that adding microbial phytase to high-phytate cereal meals (like wheat bran or maize porridges) can significantly increase iron or zinc uptake compared to the same foods without active phytase.38 39 In supplement form, that makes phytase a targeted tool for people eating very phytate-rich, plant-heavy diets.
Gluten is one area where digestive enzymes sound appealing but carry real risks if they’re misunderstood. For people with celiac disease (CD) or non-celiac wheat sensitivity (NCWS), the current gold standard is still strict avoidance of gluten-containing grains, not enzyme therapy. Even as new non-dietary therapies are explored, reviews emphasize that no pill has replaced a gluten-free diet in routine care.45
OTC “gluten-digesting” products often contain DPP-IV–like proteases (enzymes similar to dipeptidyl peptidase-4, which clip certain protein fragments) and are marketed as being capable of breaking down gluten. But a 2017 review of commercially available glutenases found that several products failed to adequately degrade the toxic gluten peptides, leaving immunogenic sequences intact.46 The authors concluded these products could be a potential hazard in celiac disease because they might encourage people to relax their gluten-free diet without actually preventing intestinal injury.
Similarly, a 2020 review of non-dietary therapies for CD and NCWS notes that enzyme strategies are still investigational and should not be used as a license to eat gluten.45
For most healthy adults, digestive enzyme supplements appear to be well tolerated in the short term, especially when taken as directed.41 Clinical trials of multi-enzyme blends for functional dyspepsia — a common cause of post-meal fullness and upper-abdominal discomfort — have found significant symptom improvements with no increase in adverse events compared with placebo.7 8 A broader review of digestive enzyme therapy in GI diseases also concludes that these products generally have a favorable safety profile when used appropriately, while emphasizing that high-quality data on OTC digestive enzyme blends is still limited.14 21
Single-enzyme products such as lactase, alpha-galactosidase, and XI likewise show good tolerability in randomized trials, with side-effect rates similar to placebo and only occasional mild GI symptoms like gas or cramping.2 3 4 11 40 That said, not every formula is the same. Enzymes can come from fungal, microbial, plant (e.g., bromelain, papain), or animal sources, and multi-enzyme blends introduce more variables. Long-term daily use of high-dose OTC blends hasn’t been studied as rigorously as short-term, targeted use, so it’s worth approaching them as a trial tool rather than something you automatically take forever.
Most side effects reported in clinical trials and reviews are uncommon and mild, but they’re still important to know about.14 21 Potential reactions include:
If you notice new or worsening symptoms — particularly significant abdominal pain, blood in the stool, black stools, weight loss, or persistent vomiting — it’s important to stop the supplement and talk with a healthcare professional rather than assume a different enzyme will fix the problem.
Overall, digestive enzyme supplements have a strong short-term safety record in studies of both targeted single enzymes and multi-enzyme blends. But like most supplements, they’re not completely risk-free, and long-term data — especially for complex formulas — is still limited.
Digestive enzyme supplements are best suited for adults who regularly experience post-meal bloating, gas, heaviness, or incomplete digestion despite a relatively balanced diet. Their primary role is to help break down macronutrients and specific food components that the body may struggle to handle on its own, reducing fermentation in the gut and improving nutrient absorption. While they’re not a cure for underlying GI disorders, clinical evidence and real-world use suggest they can provide meaningful relief in targeted situations.
More specifically, the following groups tend to benefit most from consistent, appropriately matched use:
If you often feel overly full, bloated, or uncomfortable after mixed meals (and your doctor has ruled out more serious causes), a broad-spectrum enzyme blend may help. Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in functional dyspepsia found that multi-enzyme complexes with amylases, proteases, and lipase produced modest but significant reductions in post-meal pain, fullness, and bloating compared with placebo.7 8
Lactase has some of the strongest evidence in the entire enzyme category. Up to 70% of adults worldwide lose much of their natural lactase after childhood, which is why dairy can trigger gas, bloating, and diarrhea.11 Multiple randomized, double-blind trials have shown that taking lactase with dairy-containing meals significantly lowers hydrogen breath levels and improves symptoms, although relief depends on the dose and total lactose intake.2 42 Most experts still recommend pairing it with portion control or lower-lactose choices.11
If beans, lentils, or cruciferous vegetables are your main triggers, alpha-galactosidase is one of the few targeted options with solid support. It breaks down oligosaccharides that humans can’t digest, like raffinose and stachyose, and placebo-controlled trials show that adding it to bean-rich meals can significantly reduce breath hydrogen and flatulence severity.3 23
XI converts fructose into glucose, which is easier for some people to absorb. In a double-blind crossover trial, patients with confirmed fructose malabsorption who took XI with a fructose load had lower hydrogen breath levels and fewer GI symptoms than on placebo, suggesting it may help those who experience discomfort from consuming apples, pears, honey, or high-fructose sweeteners.4
GLP-1 receptor agonists commonly slow stomach emptying and cause nausea, fullness, and constipation. Digestive enzymes are not a standard, evidence-backed treatment for these side effects, so current guidance focuses on dose titration, smaller low-fat meals, hydration, and sometimes anti-nausea meds.43 However, some clinicians and patients are experimenting with broad-spectrum enzyme blends to see if meals feel less “stuck,” but this use is based on clinical experience rather than trials, so it’s important to loop in your prescriber before trying enzymes alongside a GLP-1.
Digestive enzymes can help in specific situations, but they’re not a stand-in for medical evaluation, a license to eat anything, or a cure-all for chronic gut issues. The following groups, in particular, should be cautious or adjust expectations:
If you have ongoing or worsening symptoms — persistent abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea or constipation, oily or floating stools, unexplained weight loss, anemia, or blood in the stool — you need a full workup, not a new supplement. Major centers like Johns Hopkins warn that these are “red flag” signs that can signal problems such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, pancreatic disease, or even malignancy, and recommend prompt evaluation rather than long-term self-treatment.44
Enzyme blends marketed for gluten digestion (often built around DPP-IV proteases) are not a substitute for a gluten-free diet. Reviews still conclude that complete gluten removal is the only proven treatment for celiac disease and non-celiac gluten/wheat sensitivity, with enzyme therapies considered experimental.45 A 2017 analysis of 14 commercial “glutenase” supplements warned they may be hazardous if patients use them to relax their gluten-free diet, since most lacked evidence that they neutralize toxic gluten epitopes.46
Digestive enzymes help you break food down; they don’t correct how fast your gut moves, repair damage like ulcers, rebalance gut bacteria, or resolve conditions such as IBS, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), acid reflux, and obesity. Reviews of enzyme use in GI diseases note that, outside of specific deficiencies (like exocrine pancreatic insufficiency or lactose intolerance), evidence for broad symptom relief is limited and effects are usually modest.14 21
If you’re hoping enzymes will replace diet changes, address chronic reflux, or drive meaningful weight loss on their own, you’re likely to be disappointed — they work best as one small tool in a broader plan.
A few small studies showed that adding certain protease blends to whey or pea protein can modestly increase how quickly and how much of those amino acids appear in your bloodstream after a shake.50 51 But these trials were short, and they don’t point to better muscle gain, strength, or performance over time. If your pancreas and gut are healthy, your own enzymes already digest protein efficiently. In practice, protease isn’t a shortcut that turns 20g of protein into 40g — it’s an optional fine-tuning tool at best, and far less important than your total protein intake, training plan, sleep, and recovery.52
Enzymes are active proteins, so they can trigger allergies in some people. There are case reports of reactions to papain and bromelain — including sneezing, wheezing, skin rash, or, rarely, more serious symptoms — especially in people already sensitive to papaya or pineapple. If you have fruit, pork, or mold/fungal allergies, it’s important to check labels carefully and stop right away if you notice itching, rash, or breathing changes.47
Protease-heavy formulas (especially those with bromelain or papain) may also slightly thin the blood.48 49 Because of that, people on blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs — or anyone with a bleeding disorder — should talk with their clinician before using high-dose protease blends, rather than adding them on their own.
Human data on multi-enzyme OTC supplements in pregnancy, breastfeeding, and young children are limited. Lactase products have been used safely in both adults and children with lactose intolerance, and are supported by decades of clinical experience.11 22 But more complex blends — especially those that include botanical proteases like bromelain and papain — haven’t been studied nearly as well in these groups.25 26
As a result, if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or considering enzymes for a child, it’s best to involve your OB-GYN or pediatrician before starting anything.
Best for most people and best for GLP-1 support

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Founded in 2010, Triquetra Health is a U.S.-based supplement company built around plant-forward nutrition. The company emphasizes ingredient sourcing and transparency: its products are made in GMP-certified facilities and undergo third-party testing for purity and potency, and Triquetra highlights key testing partners on its site.
Each Flora Digest capsule delivers 450mg of a broad-spectrum digestive enzyme blend, including 1 billion colony-forming units (CFU) of probiotics and 100mg of ButyraGen (a postbiotic).
Flora Digest supplies amylase (18,000 FCC), protease (67,500 FCC), and lipase (3,600 FCC) — the same core trio used in many digestive enzyme trials and clinical formulas to support starch, protein, and fat digestion.7 8 There isn’t one standardized dose for healthy people, but these amounts sit in a solid mid-to-upper range for OTC support.
The European Food Safety Authority’s opinion on lactase notes that about 4,500 FCC units per lactose-containing meal is a typical effective dose, and some studies push closer to 10,000 FCC units.53 54 Flora Digest’s 3,600 units land just below that, likely enough for smaller dairy servings but not a maximal “big bowl of ice cream” dose.
Randomized trials using alpha-galactosidase around 300–1,200 units with bean-heavy meals show reductions in gas and breath hydrogen.3 23 Flora Digest falls in the lower-middle of that studied range — helpful for a side of beans or crucifers, but not necessarily for the largest, most challenging meals.
The other carbohydrate- and fiber-targeting enzymes (such as cellulase, xylanase, and pectinase) don’t have clear, dose-specific human data, but they mechanistically make sense to include in a digestive enzyme blend.27 28 30
Where the formula looks lighter is in its microbiome extras:
Altogether, Flora Digest is best viewed as a strong enzyme formula with “background” probiotic and postbiotic support. It’s a sensible option for people who want broad help with mixed meals or GLP-1–related sluggish digestion.
Here’s how Flora Digest’s costs break down:
| Bottle size | One-time price | Subscription (15% off) |
|---|---|---|
| 60-count bottle | $29.99 | $25.49 |
| 30-count bottle | $19.99 | $16.99 |
You can choose deliveries every 30, 45, 60, or 90 days, which makes it fairly easy to line up a bottle with daily or as-needed use.
The downside is shipping. Direct orders under $75 typically come with a noticeable fee (shipping to the Southwest U.S. came in around $8), which pushes up the true per-capsule cost for single bottles. At the time of writing, subscriptions have unlocked free shipping, but that’s promotion-dependent. Without that promotion, free standard shipping reliably kicks in only once your cart hits $75.
Triquetra backs Flora Digest with a 30-day money-back guarantee on direct purchases. For a category where “your mileage may vary” is the norm, a month is usually enough to see whether your post-meal bloating or upper-abdominal discomfort actually improves with regular use.
However, that window is shorter than the 60- or 100-day guarantees offered by Doctor’s Best and Intoleran, respectively. Additionally, if you buy Flora Digest through Amazon, you’ll need to start any return or replacement in Amazon’s system. Because Amazon limits returns on some supplement products, your request may ultimately get routed back to Triquetra. In those cases, the company will still honor its 30-day money-back guarantee, but you’ll have to complete that initial Amazon step before Triquetra will issue the refund.
Best for high-fat meals

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Founded in 1991, Pure Encapsulations has built its brand around minimalist, hypoallergenic formulas. Its products are made in NSF-GMP–registered facilities and undergo both in-house and independent lab testing for identity, potency, and contaminants (including heavy metals, solvents, and pesticides).
Each capsule of Pancreatic Enzyme Formula contains a porcine-derived pancreatin blend standardized to 17,500 USP units of lipase (about three times greater than Triquetra), along with supporting amylase and protease. The high lipase content is the main attraction here: lipase is the enzyme your pancreas uses to digest fats, and several small crossover trials suggest that supplementing lipase or pancrelipase around very high-fat meals can reduce post-meal fullness, bloating, gas, and upper-abdominal discomfort compared with placebo.6 55
Unlike some basic digestive enzyme blends, this formula uses an acid-resistant capsule so more lipase survives stomach acid and reaches the small intestine, where fat digestion actually happens.56 That makes Pancreatic Enzyme Formula closer to a “lite PERT-style” product — PERT being “prescription pancreatic enzyme replacement for diagnosed insufficiency” — than a general multi-enzyme for every meal.57
For readers whose symptoms clearly flare with high-fat meals (think pizza night, burgers, fried foods, or rich restaurant dishes), this product offers a targeted way to test whether fat-focused enzyme support helps. It isn’t a substitute for prescription pancreatic enzyme replacement in diagnosed exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and anyone with significant or persistent symptoms should work with a clinician first. But for otherwise healthy adults who consistently feel heavy, bloated, or overfull after fat-dense meals, a high-lipase formula like this is a reasonable experiment.
Here’s how Pure Encapsulations’ costs break down for Pancreatic Enzyme Formula:
| Bottle size | One-time price | Subscription price (10% off) |
|---|---|---|
| 60 capsules | $39.40 | $35.46 |
| 180 capsules | $103.60 | $93.24 |
Creating a free Pure Encapsulations account unlocks free standard shipping, which helps offset the higher per-bottle price compared with more basic enzyme blends.
For readers comparing directly with our “best for most people” pick, Triquetra Flora Digest, Pure Encapsulations is noticeably pricier per capsule — about $0.66 at regular pricing, or roughly one-third more per serving. The gap narrows if you look at enzyme strength, though: each Pancreatic Enzyme Formula capsule delivers roughly three times as much lipase as a serving of Triquetra Flora Digest, so you’re paying more per capsule but getting substantially more fat-digesting power in return, which may matter most for readers whose symptoms flare after rich, high-fat meals.
Pure Encapsulations’ return policy is on the stricter side for this guide. The company guarantees quality, purity, and potency through the expiration date, but:
So unlike Triquetra, Doctor’s Best, or Life Extension, there is no money-back guarantee. Considering digestive enzymes are a “results may vary” type of supplement, the buyer assumes more risk here than with other competitors.
Best for vegetarian diets

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Based in Tustin, California, Doctor’s Best has been producing science-supported supplements since 1990. The company manufactures its products in cGMP-compliant facilities and uses third-party testing to verify quality, with many formulas offered in non-GMO, gluten-free, or vegetarian options.
Doctor’s Best Digestive Enzymes stands out in this guide as a fully vegetarian, budget-friendly multi-enzyme blend that works especially well for people eating plant-forward diets. Each veggie capsule provides 450mg of a broad-spectrum mix, including:
Alongside its backbone, the blend adds alpha-galactosidase (500 GalU), beta-glucanase, cellulase, hemicellulase, xylanase, and phytase — enzymes that target the fermentable carbohydrates and fibers common in beans, lentils, cruciferous vegetables, and whole grains.27 28 30 Randomized trials of alpha-galactosidase show it can reduce gas-related symptoms from GOS-rich meals (like beans) in adults and children, which likely explains why many “bean and veggie” products rely on this enzyme.3 23 For vegetarians whose heaviest meals are built around legumes and grains, this emphasis is a good fit.
Each capsule includes 1 billion CFU of B. subtilis, the same species used in DE111 clinical research. Human trials with DE111 at 1–5 billion CFU/day have shown modest benefits for bowel regularity, gut comfort, and certain cardiometabolic markers.58 The dose in Doctor’s Best lands at the lower end of the studied range — a reasonable “background” dose for daily digestion support, but not a stand-alone replacement for a dedicated high-dose probiotic.
The blend also adds bromelain (50 GDU, or gelatin-digesting units — a standard way of measuring bromelain’s activity) and papain (500,000 FCC), two plant-based proteases from pineapple and papaya that help further break down dietary proteins. Reviews and small trials suggest bromelain and papain may support protein digestion and have anti-inflammatory properties at higher daily doses than this formula provides, so here they function more as supportive add-ons than primary actives.25 26
Enzymes like glucoamylase and invertase help finish the job on starches and sucrose, while lactase (1,000 FCC) offers some support for smaller amounts of dairy. By comparison, dedicated lactase products in clinical and commercial use often provide 3,000–9,000 FCC per dose for larger lactose loads.11 That means Doctor’s Best can take the edge off a splash of milk in coffee or a small dessert, but it isn’t a full-strength choice for people whose main trigger is dairy.
These ingredients, together, make Doctor’s Best Digestive Enzymes a strong match for readers who:
Here’s how Doctor’s Best’s costs break down based on current direct pricing for a 90-capsule bottle:
Shipping on the Doctor’s Best website is typically around $5 for orders under $30, with free shipping once your cart total reaches $30. In practice, that means a single bottle on a one-time order may incur a shipping fee, while combining two bottles or adding another product usually pushes you past the free-shipping threshold. (Third-party retailers like Amazon or iHerb sometimes offer lower prices or bundled shipping, which may be worth checking as well.)
Cost-wise, this makes Doctor’s Best one of the most affordable broad-spectrum vegetarian blends in the guide. Even when you account for Triquetra’s subscription savings, Doctor’s Best is still noticeably cheaper per capsule.
Doctor’s Best backs direct purchases with a satisfaction guarantee: customers have 60 days from the purchase date to submit a request if they’re not satisfied.
You’ll need to contact the company through its online form and provide proof of purchase, and the guarantee applies only to original U.S. end users buying from authorized sellers. Compared with some of the more generous policies in this guide (like Intoleran’s 100-day window), 60 days is moderate. But for a product you might use daily with meals, two months is usually enough time to see whether it measurably improves bloating, gas, or post-meal discomfort.
Best for lactose intolerance

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Founded in British Columbia, Natural Factors is a family-owned supplement company with many ingredients coming from its own 2,000-acre organic farm. From there, ingredients move into in-house manufacturing and independent testing: Natural Factors highlights ISURA certification, which screens finished products for upwards of 800 contaminants (including pesticides, solvents, and heavy metals).
Each Natural Factors Lactase Enzyme capsule contains 9,000 FCC of lactase — a fungal (Aspergillus-derived) enzyme that helps break down lactose into glucose and galactose, making dairy easier to tolerate.11 Regulators and researchers often cite around 4,500 FCC of lactase per lactose-containing meal as a typical effective dose, with some studies using 9,000–10,000 FCC units for heavier lactose loads.53 A double-blind crossover trial using Aspergillus oryzae lactase found that a 9,000 FCC capsule taken before a 25g lactose challenge significantly reduced hydrogen breath levels and GI symptoms versus placebo and outperformed a lower 3,300 FCC dose.54 Natural Factors essentially matches that higher, better-performing dose in a single capsule.
The flip side is that Natural Factors doesn’t try to be all things at once. There are no added probiotics or fiber-digesting enzymes here. If your symptoms are more general — or you also struggle with beans or high-fat meals — one of the broader blends in this guide (like Triquetra) will likely be a better fit.
Here’s how Natural Factors’ pricing shakes out for a 60-capsule bottle:
That per-capsule cost is higher than some generic lactase tablets, but you’re getting a product with a full 9,000 FCC clinical-strength dose and extensive third-party testing, which helps justify the premium.
The main drawback is shipping. Orders placed directly with Natural Factors typically incur a noticeable fee on carts under $50 (around $15 to the Southwest U.S. in our test order), though shipping becomes more reasonable once you bundle products together.
Natural Factors offers a 45-day satisfaction guarantee on purchases made through its website. You’ll need to contact customer service to initiate a return, refunds typically exclude shipping costs, and returns of opened products are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. That policy is more consumer-friendly than brands like Pure Encapsulations, which doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee, but less generous than Life Extension’s full one-year refund period.
Best for gas from beans and cruciferous vegetables
Founded in 1973, Solaray is a long-standing U.S. supplement brand that emphasizes responsible global sourcing and in-house quality control. Its products are made in GMP-certified facilities, and Solaray’s Utah lab holds ISO 17025 accreditation, an international standard for testing laboratories.
Each Solaray Bean Enzyme capsule supplies 20mg of alpha-galactosidase, providing 300 GalU of activity. Alpha-galactosidase breaks down complex carbohydrates (oligosaccharides) found in legumes, whole grains, and cruciferous vegetables into simpler sugars, which can reduce the undigested leftovers that feed gas-producing gut bacteria.23
Randomized trials using alpha-galactosidase with bean-heavy test meals typically fall in the 300–1,200 unit range and show reductions in gas, breath hydrogen, or bloating compared with placebo.3 Solaray sits at the bottom of that studied range with 300 GalU per capsule, which should be adequate for smaller servings of beans or mixed dishes. For very large bean-heavy meals, some readers may find that taking multiple capsules better approximates the higher experimental doses.
Here’s how the pricing looks for a 60-capsule bottle of Solaray Bean Enzyme:
That makes Solaray one of the most affordable targeted bean- and veggie-focused enzyme options in the guide, especially when you factor in the 20% savings available on subscriptions, which you can set to renew every 30, 60, or 90 days.
The main catch is shipping. Solaray offers complimentary shipping on orders of $50 or more, so a single $14.99 bottle ordered directly usually carries a shipping fee (around $5). Readers who want to try Bean Enzyme on its own may find better overall value through third-party retailers like iHerb or Amazon, which sometimes offer lower free-shipping thresholds.
Solaray backs its products with a 60-day satisfaction guarantee. If a Solaray supplement doesn’t work for you, the company will issue a refund for purchases made through Solaray.com or authorized partners like Amazon, as long as you’re within 60 days of purchase. For U.S. customers, orders under $50 typically don’t need to be shipped back; Solaray processes the refund and asks you to donate or share any remaining product with someone who might benefit.
That policy is more generous than brands that limit returns to unopened bottles (like Pure Encapsulations) or 30 days (like Triquetra), and it fits Bean Enzyme’s “your mileage may vary” use case. Not everyone’s indigestion is driven by the specific oligosaccharides that alpha-galactosidase targets, so a clear 60-day window gives readers time to see whether their bean- and veggie-related bloating actually improves in everyday life.
Best for protein digestion
Founded in 1982 in California, Source Naturals is an early player in the integrative supplement space. As the name implies, the company leans on natural, non-synthetic ingredients where possible. It formulates and manufactures its products in the U.S. under cGMP standards, with in-house testing of both raw materials and finished products.
Each Source Naturals Bromelain capsule provides 500mg of bromelain standardized to 2,000 GDU per gram, which works out to roughly 1,000 GDU of proteolytic activity per serving. Bromelain is a protein-digesting enzyme derived from pineapple. Reviews note that it “primarily acts as a proteolytic enzyme,” supporting the breakdown and absorption of dietary proteins in the GI tract, and that it remains active over a relatively wide pH range, allowing it to function in both the stomach and the small intestine.5 25
You can use it in two main ways:
Taken with food, bromelain acts as a high-potency protease to help break down dense protein in meals like steak, eggs, and heavy protein shakes. One capsule with a protein-heavy meal can support your own enzymes and may ease that “overly full” feeling that some people get specifically after high-protein meals. Because this is a single-enzyme product, it’s best suited to readers whose main complaint is protein-related heaviness, not symptoms clearly tied to lactose, beans, or very high fat.
Bromelain has also been studied at 500–1,000mg per day in pain and inflammation settings. Trials and reviews report that doses in this range can modestly reduce post–wisdom tooth pain and swelling, ease some osteoarthritis symptoms, and support chronic rhinosinusitis care when used alongside standard treatments, though results are mixed and study designs vary.5 25 In practical terms, one to two Source Naturals tablets per day places you in the same general dose range explored in those studies.
Source Naturals carries bromelain on its own site, but availability isn’t always consistent. It’s also stocked by retailers such as Amazon, iHerb, and Vitacost, with Amazon offering the lowest price at the time of writing.
| Bottle size | Price | Cost per serving |
|---|---|---|
| 30 capsules | $6.99 | $0.23 |
| 60 capsules | $9.79 | $0.16 |
For autoshipping, discounts vary by retailer. Amazon, for example, offers about a 5% discount on recurring deliveries. When available on the Source Naturals website, the brand offers a 15% subscription discount with delivery options every 30 or 90 days.
When purchased directly from Source Naturals, returns follow the company’s standard 30-day policy. New, unopened items in their original packaging are eligible for a full refund within 30 days of purchase, though customers are responsible for return shipping.
Because availability on the brand’s site can fluctuate — including periods when this product is out of stock — some customers may end up purchasing Source Naturals Bromelain through retailers like Amazon, iHerb, or Vitacost. Refund windows through these sellers vary: Amazon usually offers 30-day returns for supplements, while other retailers set their own timelines and rules for opened versus unopened items.
Best for fructose malabsorption
Founded in the Netherlands in 2008, Intoleran focuses almost exclusively on digestive enzymes for specific food intolerances — lactose, fructose, FODMAP mixes, and starch/sucrose. The products are developed by an in-house dietitian team and formulated with minimal excipients. Many of their supplements, including Fructase, are certified Low FODMAP by Monash University, which independently assesses FODMAP content in compliant products.
Each Fructase capsule provides 7,500 units of XI, an enzyme that converts free fructose to glucose in the small intestine. By shifting toward a roughly 1:1 ratio of glucose and fructose, more sugar can be absorbed in the small intestine rather than spilling into the colon, where it would otherwise feed gas-producing bacteria and trigger symptoms like bloating or loose stools in people with fructose malabsorption.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in adults with fructose malabsorption tested XI during standardized fructose challenges. The enzyme significantly reduced breath hydrogen and improved gastrointestinal symptoms compared with placebo, supporting its use as a mealtime tool.4 Reviews of dietary fructose intolerance and FODMAP management now highlight XI as a promising adjunct for people who don’t get full relief from diet changes alone.2 Still, as with all digestive enzymes, results vary, and some people who take XI don’t see meaningful symptom relief.
Here’s how the pricing for a 36-serving bottle of Intoleran Fructase looks:
There’s no way to subscribe or receive a discount on recurring orders. That makes Fructase one of the priciest per-capsule options in this guide, especially if you regularly need two or three capsules with higher-fructose meals.
On the plus side, Intoleran offers free standard shipping throughout the U.S., with delivery in about 2–5 business days, which helps soften the impact of the high bottle price.
Intoleran backs Fructase with a 100-day satisfaction guarantee: if you try the product and don’t experience relief, you can request your money back within roughly three months of purchase. That window is considerably longer than the 30- and 60-day policies from Triquetra and Doctor’s Best, respectively, and fits well with the trial-and-error nature of fructose-related symptoms.
Fructase may be good if you:
In those cases, Fructase offers a structured way to test whether targeted fructose support meaningfully changes day-to-day comfort — with relatively low financial risk if it doesn’t. The only company in this guide that offers a longer guarantee period is Life Extension, which provides a full year.
Best for histamine intolerance

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Founded in 1980 and based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Life Extension is one of the most established supplement brands in the U.S. All products are made in NSF-registered, GMP-compliant facilities and undergo independent third-party testing for purity and potency.
Each Food Sensitivity Relief capsule contains 4.3mg of dehydrated pea sprout powder, standardized to provide 20,000 histamine-degrading units (HDU) of vegetarian DAO activity in a delayed-release vegetarian capsule. DAO is the main enzyme responsible for breaking down extracellular histamine in the gut; low DAO activity has been documented in a subset of patients with suspected histamine intolerance.60 By supporting histamine metabolism before it can build up and reach sensitive tissues, supplemental DAO aims to reduce occasional symptoms like bloating, cramping, loose stools, flushing, or headaches after eating histamine-rich items (e.g., wine, aged cheese, cured meats, or fermented foods).
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 100 patients with episodic migraine and DAO deficiency, DAO supplementation before meals modestly reduced the mean duration of migraine attacks.59 The authors concluded that one month of DAO supplementation showed a positive trend, while calling for longer and larger studies. Life Extension’s DAO capsule is designed to deliver a similar level of DAO activity to the dose used in that trial.
Here’s how Food Sensitivity Relief’s pricing breaks down for a 60-serving bottle:
Subscriptions can be scheduled at any interval from 1 to 12 months, allowing you to easily match deliveries to your regimen. Autoship orders and purchases over $50 ship free, while smaller one-time orders incur a flat $5.50 shipping fee in the U.S.
Life Extension backs Food Sensitivity Relief with one of the most generous refund policies in the supplement industry: a 365-day money-back guarantee that applies even to opened bottles. If you try the product for several weeks or months and don’t see a meaningful difference in your post-meal comfort, you can request a full refund within a year of purchase. No other supplement company in this guide comes close to that length (Intoleran is the next longest, with 100 days).
For a niche, trial-and-error category like histamine intolerance, that long runway is a real advantage. It lets readers experiment with DAO under real-world conditions — ideally alongside guidance from a clinician — with relatively low financial risk if it doesn’t move the needle.
Digestive enzyme supplements are one way to approach post-meal bloating, gas, or heaviness — especially when you can match a specific enzyme to a specific trigger. But they’re not the only option. For many people, supporting the gut microbiome and adjusting diet patterns can make as much or more of a difference than adding extra enzymes.
Probiotics don’t replace digestive enzymes, but they can sometimes ease similar symptom patterns by reshaping the gut microbiome, improving barrier function, and modulating pain signaling. Systematic reviews suggest that certain probiotic strains can modestly improve upper GI symptoms in functional dyspepsia compared with placebo, with good safety profiles overall.61
In IBS, multiple trials and reviews report small but meaningful reductions in abdominal pain, bloating, and stool irregularity for some patients, though results are strain-specific and not everyone responds.63 Spore-forming and Lactobacillus/Bifidobacterium strains are among the most studied. For people with vague post-meal discomfort, gas, or “sensitive digestion” without a clear enzyme deficiency, a high-quality probiotic is a reasonable alternative or complement to enzyme supplements.
Feeding the bacteria you already have is another way to support digestion. Soluble fibers and prebiotic ingredients — such as partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) and other guar-based fibers — are fermented into short-chain fatty acids that support gut motility, barrier integrity, and anti-inflammatory signaling. Randomized trials in IBS show that daily supplementation with 5–6g of PHGG can reduce bloating and improve overall digestive comfort over 4–12 weeks.64 65 66
That said, more isn’t always better. Some people experience more gas at first, especially if they ramp up fiber too quickly. Starting low and increasing gradually, ideally with guidance from a clinician or dietitian, can improve tolerability.
Diet can play a big role in day-to-day indigestion. Changing how and what you eat can often ease symptoms and reduce how hard your GI tract has to work.
For many, starting with these diet and lifestyle shifts — and layering in prebiotics or probiotics as needed — may make more sense than relying indefinitely on digestive enzyme supplements, especially in the absence of a clearly documented enzyme deficiency.
Sources
Innerbody uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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