Scientific Support

There are a number of clinical trials showing the benefit of using oral proteolytic enzymes as a digestive aid. Proteolytic enzymes are also theorized to help reduce symptoms of food allergies and as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases (which are thought by some alternative medicine practitioners to be caused by whole proteins from foods leaking into the blood and causing an immune reaction – sometimes called “leaky gut”). Unfortunately, there is not a great deal of scientific evidence, either from laboratory or clinical studies, to support the use of enzymes fro treating allergies or auto-immune conditions

Perhaps the strongest evidence for benefits of proteolytic enzyme supplements come from numerous European studies showing various enzyme blends to be effective in accelerating recovery from exercise and injury in sportsmen as well as tissue repair in patients following surgery. In one study of footballers suffering from ankle injuries, proteolytic enzyme supplements accelerated healing and got players back on the field about 50% faster than athletes assigned to receive a placebo tablet. A handful of other small trials in athletes have shown enzymes can help reduce inflammation, speed healing of bruises and other tissue injuries (including fractures) and reduce overall recovery time when compared to athletes taking a placebo. In patients recovering from facial and various reconstructive surgery, treatment with proteolytic enzymes significantly reduced swelling, bruising and stiffness compared to placebo groups.
 

In one double-blind study, the pain relieving effects of an enzyme blend (Wobenzym) was compared to a common analgesic drug (Diclofenac) in 80 patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee. The study lasted 2 months with a 28-day treatment period followed by a treatment-free period of another 28 days. Ain measurements (at rest, on motion, on walking, and at night) showed a significant improvement after treatment in both groups, with a tendency to relapse in the treatment-free period. Of particular interest, was the finding of no significant difference between the treatment-groups – meaning that the enzyme blend was just as effective as the drug in relieving the pain/stiffness or arthritis. Similar findings have been reported for other painful/inflammatory conditions including carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, facial bruising, ankle sprains, muscle soreness and others.