The Healing Power of Proteolytic Enzymes
by Dr. Michael T. Murray
Introduction
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 autoimmune disorders
Sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Proteolytic enzymes in cancer therapy
[Ed. We offer Generation Plus Zymitol (serrapeptase) and Naticor (nattokinase)
plus Digesticol (digestive enzymes) products that have been shown to be very
effective.]
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. [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; and 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.
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.
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.
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.
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]
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
alpha-interferon 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]
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. Han’s 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 mucous lining. [10-13]
| Table 1. Clinical results from trials with the “Miracle
Enzyme” |
| Condition |
Cases |
% Effectiveness |
| Post-surgical swelling |
742 |
88.5% |
| Sports injuries/trauma |
208 |
87.5% |
| Inflammatory disease |
906 |
77% |
| COPD/Bronchitis |
556 |
74% |
| Enhancement of antibiotic |
124 |
79% |
| ENT infection and inflammation |
140 |
97.3% |
| Fibrocystic breast disease |
70 |
85.7% |
What is the proper dosage of proteolytic enzymes?
The typical dosage for the formula listed above is one to three capsules
10-20 minutes before meals or on an empty stomach when non-digestive effects are
desired. If it is being taken for digestive support, then it can be taken just
before meals.
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:
- Gonzalez NJ, Isaacs LL: Evaluation of pancreatic proteolytic enzyme
treatment of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, with nutrition and detoxification
support. Nutr Cancer 1999;33:117-24.
- Leipner J, Saller R: Systemic enzyme therapy in oncology: effect and mode
of action. Drugs. 2000;59:769-80.
- Ambrus JL, et al.: Absorption of exogenous and endogenous proteolytic
enzymes. Clin Pharmacol Therap 1967;8:362-8.
- Mazurov VI, et al. Beneficial effects of concomitant oral enzymes in the
treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Int J Tiss React 1997;19:91.
- Ransberger K: Enzyme treatment of immune complex diseases. Arthritis
Rheuma 1986;8:16-9.
- Steffen C, et al.: Enzyme therapy in comparison with immune complex
determinations in chronic polyarteritis. Rheumatologie 1985;44:51-6.
- Ransberger K, van Schaik W: Enzyme therapy in multiple sclerosis. Der
Kassenarzt 1986;41:42-5.
- Kleine MW, et al.: 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.
- Kabil SM, Stauder G: Oral enzyme therapy in hepatitis C patients. Int J
Tiss React 1997;19:97-8.
- Esch PM, Gerngross H, Fabian A: Reduction of postoperative swelling.
Objective measurement of swelling of the upper ankle joint in treatment with
serrapeptase-a prospective study (German). Fortschr Med. 1989;107(4):67-8,
71-2.
- Kee WH, et al.: The treatment of breast engorgement with Serrapeptase (Danzen):
a randomized double-blind controlled trial. Singapore Med J 1989;30(1):48-54.
- Mazzone A, et al.: Evaluation of Serratia peptidase in acute or chronic
inflammation of otorhinolaryngology pathology: a multicentre, double-blind,
randomized trial versus placebo. J Int Med Res 1990; 18(5):379-88.
- Majima Y, et al.: The effect of an orally administered proteolytic enzyme
on the elasticity and viscosity of nasal mucus. Arch Otorhinolaryngol.
1988;244(6):355-9.
- Friess H, et al.: Influence of high-dose pancreatic enzyme treatment on
pancreatic function in healthy volunteers. Int J Pancreatol 1998;23:115-23
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