Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Digestive Enzymes

heliosue

By heliosue
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

heliosue Apprentice
heliosue
Posted

I could really use some advice about digestive enzymes, with some specific brand names, if possible.  There are so many products out there that I have not idea where to start and am wondering if certain enzymes might be more appropriate for Celiac sufferers than for folks with different digestion problems.

Thanks.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

I used Maxi-Zyme by Country Life for a while.  They are certified gluten-free.

 

I waited one month before taking any supplements after my diagnosis.  I wanted to expedite healing so I carefully added some in.  I tend to have allergic reactions to things, so I am cautious.  Then I would take a supplement and then wait a couple of days to see if I react to them.  Then I slowly build up to the correct daily dose.  This is how my old doctor managed my medications.  I stopped most supplements within the first year (e.g. stopped iron once my ferritin levels were up).  Now I do not take any supplements except for a bit of calicum, vit.D and magnesium supplement for bone support (I have osteoporosis thanks to celiac disease!).  I figure that I am absorbing them from food and I have the lab tests to prove it!   :)

heliosue Apprentice
heliosue
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the reply. I guess digestive enzymes are not as much in use as I imagined they were.  I'll check out the ones that you mentioned and do some more research.  Thanks again.

LauraTX Rising Star
LauraTX
Posted

I use these, they are the CVS brand and gluten-free Open Original Shared Link

They go on sale buy one get one half off, plus coupons, etc.

StClair Apprentice
StClair
Posted

I'm just starting Source Naturals Essential Enzymes and will check in after a few days to report results.

Zebra007 Contributor
Zebra007
Posted

I use Daily Essential Enzymes and have found them to really make a difference to me..I choose these because they seemed like good value, and I have been taking them a week with no problems.

 

Open Original Shared Link

heliosue Apprentice
heliosue
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the replies.  I, at least, have a few to choose from now.  I went to the CDF Expo in Pasadena yesterday and picked up a catalogue from a company called Kirkman, which looks interesting.  I have some questions about the value of taking enzymes to help digest gluten, when I'm not eating gluten. Still thinking about this.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

Whoa! I googled this manufacturer and the first page of hits are blogs and the company's promotional brochure (PDF). The enzyme products as well as the rest of the products claim to be gluten free (saw no Certified gluten-free labeling.). That is fine, but to state that it will help with accidental glutenings is false! I suppose the applicable enzymes (like peptidases) may help digest grains like wheat but that is not helpful to someone with celiac disease! Their statements of like "living gluten free may cause nutritional deficiencies" is outrageous! Having celiac disease can cause deficiencies -- not a gluten free diet (unless you eat the a typical junk food diet and that can happen on one that contains gluten!). Their list of references are so lame too. References like that on my kid's science project would earn her a failing grade! It is that cheesy!

I have found nothing in research yet that has been tested and proven to help accidental glutenings yet! Drug companies are working on it, but they are not available. I would be very leary of a company which makes such claims and am horrified that they are promoting them at the conference! I guess they will sell space to anyone at the EXPO.

Supplements can be very helpful when the gut is damaged. I encourage everyone to get tested for defciencies when they are first diagnosed but do not expect that you will need to take them for the rest of your life!

Sorry, but this is a classic example of a modern day snake oil or Lucy's Vitameatavegamin scam (view the old "I Love Lucy" skit on this topic on YOUTUBE for a laugh).

heliosue Apprentice
heliosue
Posted
  • Author

Whoa! I googled this manufacturer and the first page of hits are blogs and the company's promotional brochure (PDF). The enzyme products as well as the rest of the products claim to be gluten free (saw no Certified gluten-free labeling.). That is fine, but to state that it will help with accidental glutenings is false! I suppose the applicable enzymes (like peptidases) may help digest grains like wheat but that is not helpful to someone with celiac disease! Their statements of like "living gluten free may cause nutritional deficiencies" is outrageous! Having celiac disease can cause deficiencies -- not a gluten free diet (unless you eat the a typical junk food diet and that can happen on one that contains gluten!). Their list of references are so lame too. References like that on my kid's science project would earn her a failing grade! It is that cheesy!

I have found nothing in research yet that has been tested and proven to help accidental glutenings yet! Drug companies are working on it, but they are not available. I would be very leary of a company which makes such claims and am horrified that they are promoting them at the conference! I guess they will sell space to anyone at the EXPO.

Supplements can be very helpful when the gut is damaged. I encourage everyone to get tested for defciencies when they are first diagnosed but do not expect that you will need to take them for the rest of your life!

Sorry, but this is a classic example of a modern day snake oil or Lucy's Vitameatavegamin scam (view the old "I Love Lucy" skit on this topic on YOUTUBE for a laugh).

Thanks.  I haven't had a chance to Google them yet.  I think they also sell on Amazon. To be honest, I don't think the rep was pushing the digestive enzymes at the Expo.  He had lots of products on his table and I mentioned that I was looking into getting some digestive enzymes and he suggested that I check out the catalog.  That was where I found the enzyme that seemed to aimed at the Celiac audience.

heliosue Apprentice
heliosue
Posted
  • Author

Thanks.  I haven't had a chance to Google them yet.  I think they also sell on Amazon. To be honest, I don't think the rep was pushing the digestive enzymes at the Expo.  He had lots of products on his table and I mentioned that I was looking into getting some digestive enzymes and he suggested that I check out the catalog.  That was where I found the enzyme that seemed to aimed at the Celiac audience.

BTW - love the vitameatavegimin  show!

mamaw Community Regular
mamaw
Posted

I think many celiac  folks  take  digestive  enzymes. Plus probiotics....  D-enzymes  help  break down  the  proteins carbs & such  to help  the  body... I use  DIgest Gold  ...

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

I think many celiac  folks  take  digestive  enzymes. Plus probiotics....  D-enzymes  help  break down  the  proteins carbs & such  to help  the  body... I use  DIgest Gold  ...

Mamaw,

I am not knocking digestive enzymes or probiotics as I have used them for over 20 years and my doctor was the first to recommend them. The company that Heliosue mentioned seems to imply that their product works to prevent the effects of accidentally getting glutened. . No one should make that claim! Avoiding gluten is currently the only "cure" for those with celiac disease.

mamaw Community Regular
mamaw
Posted

cyclinglady,  I  was  answering  the posters  comment in her  second  post "I guess digestive  enzymes are not as  much in use  as  I  imagined"  My  comment  back  was  many celiac  folks  use  digestive  enzymes  & probiotics....

And  by the  way  your  post  back  to me -- I totally agree  so I guess  you have  me  confused...I wasn't  knocking  anything  or anyone....how  did  you  get  to think that?

 

I do see  many  pills  labeled  for  help  with gluten  ingestion,  they do make  claims  but  I never  used  any of them because  in twelve  years  I was  glutened  once..... Ie: gluten ease, glutenza & so many more. I can't  give a  yay or  nay  on  these  pills as  I never tried  them........ every company  wants to  jump into the gluten-free  arena to make  big  bucks....common  sense  is needed....

I'm a  great  advocator   of  the benefits  of  probiotics  &  digestive  enzymes....not  to "cure celiac"  but to help  the gut  in the healing process..

heliosue Apprentice
heliosue
Posted
  • Author

Oh. dear!  I think this thread got glutened!  I believe Cyclinglady was totally responding to my post about the Kirkman brand at the Expo.  Sometimes the response get mixed up due to times and which actual post someone is replying to.  Anyway, thank all of you for trying to help me figure out my digestive enzyme problem.

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

Ha! Let's face it. It is so easy for things to be mis-communicated without being face to face! Sorry!

heliosue Apprentice
heliosue
Posted
  • Author

Absolutely nothing to be sorry for from my corner of the ring.  In  the few weeks that I have been hanging out here, I have learned to value your input.  Thanks.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to HectorConvector's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      314

      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      Sorry, I just realized how old this thread is and only read the initial post from 2021. I'll have to catch up on the comments in this thread.
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to HectorConvector's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      314

      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      Sorry to hear you're going through such a hard time. It would be worth looking into MCAS/histamine issues and also Long Covid. Perhaps there is something occurring in addition to celiac disease. It would be worth ruling out micronutrient deficiencies such as the b vitamins (B12, folate, B1, etc), vit D, and ferritin (iron stores).
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to HectorConvector's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      314

      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      This sounds very similar to the neuropathic pain I experienced with type two diabetes. Gloves and boots pattern of neuropathy is common with deficiencies in Cobalamine B12 (especially the pain in the big toe), Niacin B3, and Pyridoxine B6. These are vitamins frequently found to be low in people with pre-diabetes and diabetes. Remember that blood tests...
    4. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to HectorConvector's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      314

      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      I’m really sorry you’re dealing with this—chronic neuropathic or nociplastic pain can be incredibly frustrating, especially when testing shows no nerve damage. It’s important to clarify for readers that this type of central sensitization pain is not the same thing as ongoing gluten exposure, particularly when labs, biopsy, and nutritional status are normal....
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Known1's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      11

      Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water

      There is no credible scientific evidence that standard water filters contain gluten or pose a gluten exposure risk. Gluten is a food protein from wheat, barley, or rye—it is not used in activated carbon filtration in any meaningful way, and refrigerator or pitcher filters are not designed with food-based binders that would leach gluten into water. AI-generated s...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,581
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    MaggieSc
    Newest Member
    MaggieSc
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Jane02
      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Sorry, I just realized how old this thread is and only read the initial post from 2021. I'll have to catch up on the comments in this thread. 
    • Jane02
      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Sorry to hear you're going through such a hard time. It would be worth looking into MCAS/histamine issues and also Long Covid. Perhaps there is something occurring in addition to celiac disease. It would be worth ruling out micronutrient deficiencies such as the b vitamins (B12, folate, B1, etc), vit D, and ferritin (iron stores). 
    • knitty kitty
      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      This sounds very similar to the neuropathic pain I experienced with type two diabetes.  Gloves and boots pattern of neuropathy is common with deficiencies in Cobalamine B12 (especially the pain in the big toe), Niacin B3, and Pyridoxine B6.  These are vitamins frequently found to be low in people with pre-diabetes and diabetes.  Remember that blood tests for vitamin levels is terribly inaccurate.  You can have vitamin deficiencies before there are any changes in blood levels.  You can have "normal" serum levels, but be deficient inside organs and tissues where the vitamins are actually utilized.  The blood is a transportation system, moving vitamins absorbed in the intestines to organs and tissues.  Just because there's trucks on the highway doesn't mean that the warehouses are full.  The body will drain organs and tissues of their stored vitamins and send them via the bloodstream to important organs like the brain and heart.  Meanwhile, the organs and tissues are depleted and function less well.   Eating a diet high in simple carbohydrates can spike blood sugar after meals.  Eating a diet high in carbohydrates consistently over time can cause worsening of symptoms.  Thiamine and other B vitamins like Niacin B3 and Pyridoxine B6, (which I noticed you are not supplementing), are needed to turn carbs, proteins and fats into energy for the body to use.  Alcohol consumption can lower blood sugar levels, and hence, alleviate the neuropathic pain.  Alcohol destroys many B vitamins, especially Pyridoxine, Thiamine and Niacin.  With alcohol consumption, blood glucose is turned into fat, stored in the liver or abdomen, then burned for fuel, thus lowering blood glucose levels.  With the cessation of alcohol and continued high carb diet, the blood glucose levels rise again over time, resulting in worsening neuropathy.   Heavy exercise can also further delete B vitamins.  Thiamine and Niacin work in balance with each other.  Sort of like a teeter-totter, thiamine is used to produce energy and Niacin is then used to reset the cycle for thiamine one used again to produce energy.  If there's no Niacin, then the energy production cycle can't reset.  Niacin is important in regulating electrolytes for nerve impulse conduction.  Electrolyte imbalance can cause neuropathic pain.   Talk to your doctors about testing for Type Two diabetes or pre-diabetes beyond an A1C test since alcohol consumption can lower A1C giving inaccurate results. Talk to your doctors about supplementing with ALL eight B vitamins, and correcting deficiencies in Pyridoxine, Niacin, and B12.  Hope this helps! Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ P. S.  Get checked for Vitamin C deficiency, aka Scurvy.  People with Diabetes and those who consume alcohol are often low in Vitamin C which can contribute to peripheral neuropathy.
    • Scott Adams
      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I’m really sorry you’re dealing with this—chronic neuropathic or nociplastic pain can be incredibly frustrating, especially when testing shows no nerve damage. It’s important to clarify for readers that this type of central sensitization pain is not the same thing as ongoing gluten exposure, particularly when labs, biopsy, and nutritional status are normal. A stocking/glove pattern with normal nerve density points toward a pain-processing disorder rather than active celiac-related injury. Alcohol temporarily dampening symptoms likely reflects its central nervous system depressant effects, not treatment of an underlying gluten issue—and high-dose alcohol is dangerous and not a safe or sustainable strategy. Seeing a pain specialist is absolutely the right next step, and we encourage members to work closely with neurology and pain management rather than assuming hidden gluten exposure when objective testing does not support it.
    • Scott Adams
      Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      There is no credible scientific evidence that standard water filters contain gluten or pose a gluten exposure risk. Gluten is a food protein from wheat, barley, or rye—it is not used in activated carbon filtration in any meaningful way, and refrigerator or pitcher filters are not designed with food-based binders that would leach gluten into water. AI-generated search summaries are not authoritative sources, and they often speculate without documentation. Major manufacturers design filters for water purification, not food processing, and gluten contamination from a water filter would be extraordinarily unlikely. For people with celiac disease, properly functioning municipal, bottled, filtered, or distilled water is considered gluten-free.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.