Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • 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


kbtoyssni

Recommended Posts

kbtoyssni Contributor

Yesterday my chiropractor suggested that maybe I don't have celiac, and it's a digestive problem instead. He was going to give me some digestive enzymes that you take for two weeks, and then he thought I should try eating gluten again to see if it made any difference. I AM NOT willing to take that risk - I didn't even take the enzymes because they're manufactured in a facility that contains wheat.

The reason why he suggested this is because I don't have an official diagnosis. I did an elimination diet and reacted very badly when I re-introduced wheat and barley. I started eating gluten for about a week to try to get positive blood work, but I don't think it was long enough, and I wasn't willing to keep eating gluten just to get an official diagnosis because at that point I just wanted to get better. And now, nine months after going gluten-free, I feel better than I have in ten years.

So my question is, have any of you tried digestive enzymes? How do they work and why would my chiropractor think they would work for me? What sort of digestive conditions do they help for? Would they help me even if I do stay on a gluten-free diet? I'm wondering if he thought I had mainly digestive symptoms, but my symptoms were mostly fatigue, join pain, brain fog, etc. The stomach pain was minor compared to my other symptoms.

I am not going to start eating gluten again, I'm just curious about why he would suggest this.


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Rachel--24 Collaborator

Digestive enzymes can be very helpful. However, they cannot stop or prevent the autoimmune response that occurs with gluten consumption. Even if you dont have Celiac....you are obviously gluten intolerant so you would still be experiencing an autoimmune reaction from gluten.

The enzymes can aid in breaking down your food for easier digestion. Since most of us with gluten intolerance have impaired intestines the enzymes can help with digestion. Also some of us may lack some of the enzymes needed for breaking down various foods. The more food is broken down and completely digested the less large food molecules are left to possibly create an allergic response. When undigested food particles leave the digestive tract (as is the case with leaky gut) then the immune system may launch an attack on these and create secondary food intolerances.

Hope that makes sense.

plantime Contributor

I tried digestive enzymes. They did absolutely nothing to stop any celiac reactions. They did help food digest better, and I eliminated much easier, but that is all.

loraleena Contributor

I use enzymes and they help me digest in general - less bloating and gas. Not gluten though. You do sound at least gluten intolerant. If you feel terrible on gluten, then that is all you need to know.

Guest cassidy

I take digestive enzymes all the time, but I'm not at all under the impression that they will help with celiac or symptoms when glutened.

I had issues with partially digested food coming out (sorry - gross) and digestive enzymes help your body digest your food. I also have stomach aches from safe food sometimes. I've only been gluten-free for 6 months so I assume that my body is still healing. I feel that the enzymes help make it easier for my body to digest my food and that it probably needs all the help it can get right now.

I had negative blood work but a very positive dietary response. I never tried to reintroduce gluten to see if I had a problem, because I glutened myself on accident enough times. I have no question in my mind that I have celiac.

Also, I have taken the enzymes after being glutened, again just to help my body digest in general and I never noticed an easier time with my symptoms from being glutened.

A lot of doctors don't like to believe that someone has celiac, so maybe your doctor is hopeful. I wouldn't take them if they are produced in a facility that contains wheat, and I certainly wouldn't try gluten again.

kbtoyssni Contributor

Thanks for the info everyone! Sounds like it might be worth try as a general digestive aid. I do take acidopholis which seems to help me, and this sounds like it might be similar.

But there's no way I'm eating gluten again. I've been accidently glutened enough times to know I don't want to eat gluten on purpose.

  • 2 weeks later...
Carolita Rookie

Which enzymes do you recommend?

I'm still new at this and would like to buy some b/c I feel like I'm not digesting food very well. I'm already on a gluten free diet but I some times feel sick of my stomach mainly from gas.

Your help is appreciated,

Carol :)


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



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



BRUMI1968 Collaborator

I take DigestGold, but they are enormously expensive. They are about 25.00 a bottle, and that bottle only lasts three weeks or so. I've bought cheaper ones, and find they work not quite as well, but nearly so. I probably only need to take one at this point, and I'm still swallowing two - so that might make more sense. Anyway, they are gluten-free, and potent, and cover all the bases. It has twice as many enzymes as another brand I've taken.

The other thing I take is Betain-HCI. It is "supposed" to increase your stomach acid, though I've read things that say it doesn't. I don't know if it helps. But I'm doing the regimine my nutritionist put me on.

It certainly improved the quality of my stool, and, I imagine, how much I am getting out of my foods.

I plan to wean off them in another four months - see if I can make all the good stuff on my own.

Carolita Rookie
I take DigestGold, but they are enormously expensive. They are about 25.00 a bottle, and that bottle only lasts three weeks or so. I've bought cheaper ones, and find they work not quite as well, but nearly so. I probably only need to take one at this point, and I'm still swallowing two - so that might make more sense. Anyway, they are gluten-free, and potent, and cover all the bases. It has twice as many enzymes as another brand I've taken.

The other thing I take is Betain-HCI. It is "supposed" to increase your stomach acid, though I've read things that say it doesn't. I don't know if it helps. But I'm doing the regimine my nutritionist put me on.

It certainly improved the quality of my stool, and, I imagine, how much I am getting out of my foods.

I plan to wean off them in another four months - see if I can make all the good stuff on my own.

Thank you for the information. Where do you buy them? Do you get them on line or a local store? I'm planning to go look for them tomorrow. Hopefully I can find them.

Thanks again,

Carol :)

  • 3 weeks later...
Super Bellybutton Rookie

How fast did it take for you guys to get results?

I'm taking some right now that are gluten-free (namely those without the malt diastase). They seem to help with my blood sugar a little though.

BRUMI1968 Collaborator

What I noticed right away was that my stool was no longer accompanied by undigested food bits. Yuck, I know, but that's what I noticed right away.

I buy the Digest Gold at the food co-op, but I think "super Supplements" carries them as well. Enzymedica also has a website.

Good luck.

Lymetoo Contributor
Which enzymes do you recommend?

NOW brand is gluten free! good quality and NOT expensive. Available at any good health food store and probably online.

Maybe www.Lame Advertisement.com ?? My favorite place is vitacost, but they don't carry it.

Archived

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


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      128,875
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Wendy Jackson
    Newest Member
    Wendy Jackson
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.1k
    • Total Posts
      71.3k

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • trents
      Thanks for sharing, Karen. Certainly a needed reminder what we already knew (and I've posted many times on this forum) but sometimes forget, namely, autoimmune disorders tend to cluster. Where one is found, you can look for others to show up eventually. The thing that is unusual in your son's case is the onset of several of them at such a young age. My sister in law, who is in her early 60's has Crohn's and struggles with constipation so I don't think that is unusual with Crohn's. If nothing else, it's the outcome of not eating much because of the pain. Now that you know what is going on with your son and the Crohn's, we hope he is beginning to improve.
    • Nathan.
      Hi there. My son is turning 16 this month. He had an endoscopy and biopsy to confirm celiac. He went gluten-free and his pain never got any better. I think it got worse. Months went by. The pain started around 7th grade. He missed a lot of school in 8th grade, and a whole lot in 9th grade. He couldn't go to school in 10th grade. All along the gastroenterologist prescribed Hyoscyamine, didn't help at all. Cyproheptadine, no less pain. Peppermint oil, ginger, Miralax, Senna. Doc said he was constipated, but I couldn't get him to have Miralax daily. Eventually he went on Linzess and no senna or Miralax. Sorry this is long, there will be a point.  We gave his school not just a doctors not, but everything, and U of M makes a lot of notes. They still turned us in for Truancy.  I didn't get him enrolled in online school fast enough.  The school would not recommend an online school and i didn't know which one to choose.  Doc thought it was nerve pain and mental. He recommended the u of m my pain program.  Nathan did so good, 3 days a week supposed to be for 4 weeks.  Never missed, always on time.   After two weeks, they discharged him. Said it was not  benefitting him.  Pain went on. I had been asking if there were any other test they could do. Ultrasound, colonoscopy. Doc said we can do it, but I don't think we'll find anything.  Finally he had a colonoscopy and another endoscopy.  Guess what, they did find something. They found a ton of tiny ulcers everywhere, from the esophagus to his rectum. They think Crohn's. I understand they didn't check for that because he was more constipated, not much diarrhea. He is getting an MRI with contrast on Sunday. Also they want him to do a cal-protectin (give a poop sample). Then an appointment on the 16th to talk about treatment. Then the probation officer on the 17th. In the meantime he is taking Budesonide extended release.  $276.00 for 30 pills, and that's with insurance. Also he was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, Graves disease a few months ago. If it is for sure Crohn's,  it will be three autoimmune diseases. If someone is gluten-free for a month or more, and the pain is no better, don't stop looking. I was beside myself. Did they think he was exaggerating, lying? I was considering taking him to a holistic doctor, who would probably recommend Peppermint oil and ginger.  He's such a good kid. Kind of an introvert. He was on the 9th grade soccer team. He would try to go to practice and kept having to stop, the pain was that bad. Every time he ate, it didn't matter what, gluten-free chicken tenders, mac and cheese, pizza, ice cream, all gluten-free, he would eat a normal amount but stop and say, I can't eat anymore, my stomach hurts.  If anyone reads all this, thank you. I had a gut feeling, no pun intended, that he had an additional problem. They found celiac and stopped looking. If you don't feel better, keep on your doctor to check further, keep looking.   Take care, Karen  
    • Scott Adams
      Most likely cross-contamination I believe.
    • cristiana
      I think it takes different people different amounts of time, but in my own case I had pain,  bloating and loose stools for some time, exacerbated by a lactose intolerance, which eventually went.  I would say the really bad diarrhea got better quite quickly, but the bloating pain carried on for a few months, until I was told to give up lactose for a few weeks.  That helped enormously and once I realised milk and yoghurt was the cause, after a short break I went back to lactose very gradually and felt a lot better.  Now I can tolerate it well. From Coeliac UK "The enzyme lactase is found in the brush border of the small intestine. This is why people with coeliac disease can be deficient in lactase at diagnosis. Once established on a gluten free diet, the gut is able to heal and lactose digestion returns to normal. Lactose intolerance is therefore usually temporary." So if this helps your daughter, this doesn't mean you have to give up lactose forever, especially as dairy is such a good source of calcium for growing kids.   Bear in mind you should be able to reintroduce it. As for fatigue, this can be due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies,such as iron, vitamin D and B12.  Were these levels tested?  If not, I would suggest you get them done.  If your daughter is deficient in these, it is vital you address the deficiencies, and get the tests redone in a few months, particularly the iron, because too much can be dangerous.
    • knitty kitty
      Hello,   The medication in these inhalers can cause a thiamine deficiency if used by someone already low in thiamine.  We don't absorb sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals due to the inflammation and damage done to our villi in Celiac Disease.  Even a long term strict gluten free diet may not provide sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals.  There are eight B vitamins that all work together.  Thiamine deficiency often shows up first because our bodies use so much of it and it can't be stored very long. Thiamine deficiency symptoms can appear in as little as three days.  Without thiamine, the other B vitamins may not be able to function properly.   Thiamine is needed to clear lactic acid accumulation caused by the inhalers: Shoshin beriberi provoked by the inhalation of salbutamol https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12951730/    Significant Lactic Acidosis from Albuterol https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5965110/ Albuterol-Induced Type B Lactic Acidosis: Not an Uncommon Finding https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7263006/ Lessons of the month 1: Salbutamol induced lactic acidosis: clinically recognised but often forgotten https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6964186/ An Overview of Type B Lactic Acidosis Due to Thiamine (B1) Deficiency https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10731935/   Thiamine has antifungal and antibacterial properties.  Thiamine helps keep Candida in check.  Thiamine helps keep SIBO in check.  Thiamine helps with black mold, Aspergillis infection.  Riboflavin helps fight Candida infection in the mouth. Riboflavin Targets the Cellular Metabolic and Ribosomal Pathways of Candida albicans In Vitro and Exhibits Efficacy against Oropharyngeal Candidiasis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36625571/   Thiamine deficiency can make ones voice hoarse and can cause localized edema.  Niacin deficiency can make ones voice hoarse.  (Niacin deficiency and Thiamine deficiency can each cause irritability, agitation, and lability.) Hoarseness in pellagra https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21507655/ Hidden Hunger: A Pellagra Case Report https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8152714/   Anesthesia can cause B12 deficiency.  B12 deficiency can show up as mouth sores and geographic tongue, diarrhea, and dementia. Vitamin deficiency, a neglected risk factor for post-anesthesia complications: a systematic review https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11823251/ Neurologic degeneration associated with nitrous oxide anesthesia in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8250714/ Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord following nitrous oxide anesthesia: A systematic review of cases https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30144777/ The Effect of Vitamin B12 Infusion on Prevention of Nitrous Oxide-induced Homocysteine Increase: A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4052402/     Eating a diet that is heavy in carbohydrates can precipitate a thiamine deficiency.  As the amount of carbohydrates consumed increases, additional thiamine is needed, otherwise the carbs will be stored as fat.   Thiamine deficiency disorders: a clinical perspective https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8451766/   Hiding in Plain Sight: Modern Thiamine Deficiency https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8533683/   The deficiency symptoms of some of the B vitamins cause gastrointestinal symptoms that resemble the same symptoms as when being glutened.   Thiamine deficiency can present as vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain (Gastrointestinal Beriberi).  Niacin deficiency can present as diarrhea (Pellagra = diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia, then death ).  B12 deficiency can present as diarrhea or dementia.  Not everything is caused by hidden gluten.  Gluten free processed foods are not required to be enriched with vitamins lost in processing like gluten containing foods are. Blood tests are not accurate measurements of vitamin levels, but do talk to your doctor and nutritionist about supplementing with the eight B vitamins, Vitamin C, the four fat soluble vitamins and minerals like magnesium.  Your physician can give you a shot of B12 before anesthesia administration.   By the way, Celiac Disease genes have been traced back to having originated in Neanderthals.  I'm not a singing teacher on the net.  I earned a degree in Microbiology after studying nutrition because I wanted to know what vitamins are doing inside the body.  I've experienced nutritional deficiencies myself. Hope this helps!  Keep us posted on your progress!
×
×
  • Create New...