Enzymes have been called the “spark of life” because they make life possible due to their function in the human body. Enzymes are proteins that are needed to catalyze (accelerate) biochemical reactions in the body; in fact, all biological processes in the cell need enzymes for the reactions to occur in a significant way. The potential for enzyme use has not escaped scientists’ imaginations, as now enzymes are used in numerous industrial and medical applications.

As American Laboratories Inc. has been manufacturing enzymes for commercial applications for 40 years, the company identified a need for a good wide-spectrum enzyme product that could not only fulfill certain industry uses, but also nutritional uses. Panc-Zyme®, a unique animal-sourced enzyme formulation, is composed of protease, amylase and lipase, as well as trypsin and chymotrypsin enzymes at very high potency. As all the raw materials used to formulate Panc-Zyme fit USDA and FDA status as food, they are safe for food use. In the food and nutritional industries, this enzyme complex can also be used for processing foods and/or food ingredients, depending on the manufacturers’ needs. Specifically, it is suited for applications in which lower molecular weight proteins are desired. For instance, in dairy and cheese processing, Panc-Zyme can be used to hydrolyze some of the protein components of a formulation, resulting in a change in texture and certain palatability characteristics.

Panc-Zyme has other exciting potential uses. It can be a nutritional digestive aid, used as a dietary supplement or even used in some foods. With Americans gobbling up antacids like bubble gum, the emerging field of nutritional enzyme therapy could find a huge market for helping digestive distress as an alternative to antacids. In fact, 81 million people in the U.S. now suffer from chronic digestive health issues every year (according to the American Gastroenterological Association).  

Panc-Zyme cannot be used in baked foods or foods with high moisture as a nutritional aid, as the enzyme would be used up on the food formulation itself. Rather, Bret Wyant, sales representative for American Laboratories, recommends that it be formulated into capsules, tablets or in dry powder blends. Because it contains protease, trypsin and chymotrypsin, it digests protein. Amylase digests carbohydrate, and lipase digests fats, thus making Panc-Zyme a good, general digestive aid, according to Wyant.

Why would we need to supplement with enzymes? “As people age, the enzymes produced in the human body decrease, and the body gets less efficient at utilizing food and metabolizing the nutrients they need to stay healthy,” explains Wyant. “There are other enzymes on the market, but most that are marketed for digestion, such as papain and bromelain (which are specific for digesting proteins), do not work well as broad digestive aids.”NS


For more information:
American Laboratories Inc., Omaha, Neb.
Bret Wyant , 402-339-2494