The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of an NEC digestive enzyme supplement on the digestibility of proteins and carbohydrates, and the bioaccessibility of nutrients under the following conditions:
1) Healthy human adult digestion (perfect conditions)
2) Impaired digestion. 70% reduced gastric and intestinal secretions
Results show that NEC fungal digestive enzymes improve the digestibility and bioaccessibility of proteins and carbohydrates in the lumen of the small intestine, not only under impaired digestive conditions, but also in healthy human digestion. Furthermore, the test meal fed to the TIM system was an FDA recommended meal, which is smaller in macronutrient content and total calories than the typical American diet. The conservative amount of food used in the experiments, and the corresponding results obtained, further testify to the use of fungal digestive enzyme supplements.
The activity of any digestive enzyme supplement in the small intestine presupposes that the enzymes in the supplement survive the acidity of the stomach. From the above experiments we have established that NEC fungal digestive enzymes do survive the acidity of the stomach and work in the small intestine. In fact, our research has demonstrated that NEC fungal enzymes not only survive the acidity of the stomach, but also are active in that harsh environment where most other types of enzymes are inactivated. Therefore, there is no scientific basis for enterically coating NEC fungal enzymes for general digestive applications. Such action would be detrimental to the consumer since the coating would prevent the enzymes from working in the stomach.
This research is the first comprehensive study that shows that NEC fungal digestive enzymes substantially increase the level of digestion in the lumen of the small intestine and bioaccessibility of proteins and carbohydrates. These results not only validate the use of digestive enzymes in cases of impaired digestion, but also show that most healthy adults can benefit by using a digestive enzyme supplement.
