Life Extension Enhanced Super Digestive Enzymes 60 Vegetarian Caps

What it is

Enhanced Super Digestive Enzymes from Life Extension is a dietary supplement supplied as 60 vegetarian capsules in a blue plastic bottle. One capsule is a serving, and each serving carries a 140 mg Vegetarian Digestive Enzyme Blend made up of ten separate enzymes. It is a plant- and microbial-sourced enzyme formula rather than a herbal extract, a vitamin or a mineral product, and the bottle is marked Non-GMO under the LE Certified programme.

You will find it alongside the rest of our Supplements range. The capsule shell itself is vegetable cellulose, so the capsule contains no gelatin.

What's inside

Digestive enzymes are proteins that break specific food molecules into smaller ones, and each enzyme acts on a particular class of molecule rather than on food in general. That is why this panel lists ten of them instead of one. Here is what each named enzyme in the blend acts on, and where the label says it comes from.

• Protease SP (from A. oryzae and B. subtilis) — proteases are the enzyme family that acts on protein, splitting long protein chains into shorter peptides and amino acids. This one is the largest single activity figure on the panel after bromelain.
• Bromelain (from A. comosus) — bromelain is a protein-acting enzyme group originally identified in pineapple, which is what Ananas comosus is. It is one of the most widely used enzymes in supplement formulas.
• Lactase (from A. oryzae) — lactase acts on lactose, the sugar found in milk and dairy foods.
• Cellulase (from A. niger) — cellulase acts on cellulose, the fibrous structural material in plant cell walls. Human beings do not produce this enzyme themselves.
• Lipase (from C. rugosa) — lipases are the fat-acting family, working on triglycerides such as those in oils, nuts and dairy fat.
• Alpha Galactosidase (from A. niger) — this one acts on the oligosaccharides found in beans, lentils and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts.
• Hemicellulase (from A. niger) — hemicellulose sits alongside cellulose in plant cell walls, and this enzyme acts on that fraction of plant fibre.
• Pectinase (from A. niger) — pectin is the setting agent that makes jam gel, and it occurs naturally in fruit skins and pulp. Pectinase acts on it.
• Protease 3.0 (from A. niger) — a second, separately listed protein-acting enzyme, measured on the panel in its own activity unit.
• Xylanase (from T. longibrachiatum) — xylan is a component of plant fibre found in grains and vegetable matter, and xylanase acts on it.

One thing worth understanding before you read the table: enzymes are not measured in milligrams the way a vitamin is. They are measured in activity units — HUT, PU, ALU, CU, FIP, GalU, HCU, endo-PGU, SAPU and XU are all standardised assay units describing how much work the enzyme does under defined laboratory conditions. That is why the panel gives 140 mg as the total weight of the blend, then lists activity figures rather than weights for the individual enzymes. A larger activity number is not directly comparable across different enzymes, because each unit is defined differently.

For general background on how dietary supplements are regulated and labelled in the United States, the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements consumer overview and the FDA's dietary supplements page are useful starting points. Labels for products in this category can also be searched in the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

How to use it

The label directs: take one (1) capsule one to two times daily prior to the heaviest meals, or as recommended by a healthcare practitioner. The instruction to time it with the heaviest meals of the day is the manufacturer's, and it is printed on the bottle rather than being our suggestion.

Storage is straightforward — store tightly closed in a cool, dry place. The label also asks that you read the entire label and follow the directions carefully before use, and that you do not purchase the bottle if the outer seal is damaged, so it is worth checking the seal when your order arrives.

Who it's for

This is a general dietary supplement for adults aged 18 and over, and Life Extension positions it around meals built on vegetables, pulses and other plant foods. The enzymes named on the panel act on a wide spread of food components — protein, fats, milk sugar, plant fibre and the oligosaccharides in beans and cruciferous vegetables — which is a broader range than a single-enzyme lactase product covers.

The capsule shell is vegetable cellulose rather than gelatin. Anyone who avoids wheat or soy should read the allergen line in the Good to know section below before ordering, because it is directly relevant. If you take prescription medication or are under a doctor's care, speak to them first.

Good to know

Allergen information, printed on the Supplement Facts panel: contains wheat, soybeans. If you avoid wheat, gluten or soy for any reason, this is the line to act on.

The label's own warnings are as follows: keep out of reach of children; do not exceed the recommended dose; do not purchase if the outer seal is damaged; and consult with your physician if you are under medical care for a condition, or if you are pregnant or lactating.

The bottle is marked as manufactured in the USA and Non-GMO under the LE Certified programme. It is manufactured for Quality Supplements and Vitamins, Inc. of Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309. Life Extension gives a contact line of 1-866-280-2852 to report a serious adverse event or obtain product information. General guidance on supplement safety is available from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.

No California Proposition 65 warning is printed anywhere on this packaging.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this product contain wheat or soy?

Yes. The Supplement Facts panel on the bottle carries the allergen statement "Contains wheat, soybeans." That statement is printed directly beneath the Other Ingredients line on the Life Extension Enhanced Super Digestive Enzymes label, and anyone avoiding wheat, gluten or soy should take it as the deciding fact.

Are the capsules suitable for vegetarians?

Yes. The capsule shell is vegetable cellulose, listed under Other Ingredients, and the label describes the product throughout as 60 vegetarian capsules with a serving size of one vegetarian capsule. The enzyme blend itself is named the Vegetarian Digestive Enzyme Blend and is sourced from fungal and bacterial cultures such as A. oryzae and A. niger, plus bromelain from pineapple.

When should I take a capsule?

Take one capsule one to two times daily before your heaviest meals, or as recommended by a healthcare practitioner. That is the wording printed on the bottle. Timing it before the meal rather than after is part of the manufacturer's stated instruction.

How many capsules are in the bottle?

The bottle holds 60 vegetarian capsules. Because one capsule is a single serving, and the directions allow either one or two capsules a day, a bottle works out at 30 to 60 servings depending on which of those two patterns you follow.

Why are the enzymes listed in units like HUT and FCC rather than milligrams?

Because enzymes are measured by activity, not by weight. HUT, PU, ALU, CU, FIP, GalU, HCU, endo-PGU, SAPU and XU are standardised assay units, each defined for a particular enzyme type, so they describe how much work the enzyme does rather than how much of it is present. The panel therefore gives 140 mg as the weight of the whole blend and activity figures for the ten enzymes within it.

How is my order packaged for delivery?

Orders ship in plain outer packaging with no product imagery or description on the outside.

Product information compiled and reviewed by the Gear Isle product team. We transcribe supplement facts directly from manufacturer packaging. Found an error? Tell us.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Dietary supplement for adults 18 and over. Consult a licensed healthcare professional before use, especially if you have a medical condition, heart concerns, or take prescription medication (including nitrates). Keep out of reach of children.