Top 5 Digestive Enzyme Supplements – Full Analysis, Reviews & Buying Guide (2023)

The pancreas naturally produces digestive enzymes (e.g. amylase, protease, and lipase)  to break down food in the gastrointestinal tract. It breaks down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into molecules that the body can absorb and use to function properly [**].

As we age our pancreas suffers from wear and tear and functions less efficiently. Habits such as alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking negatively affect the pancreas and reduces secretion of digestive enzymes in the digestive tract [*].  

Conditions such as chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic tumors, diabetes mellitus, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, as well as congenital and genetic factors lead to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) [*].  

Individuals with EPI are deficient in digestive enzymes necessary for proper digestion. Common symptoms of EPI include oily stool, flatulence, weight loss, bloating, and abdominal pain [*].  

EPI also leads to malnutrition and serious complications. It negatively affects muscle function,  bone health, immune function, and cardiovascular health [*].  

Individuals with EPI are treated with pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), a digestive enzyme supplementation available by prescription [***]. 

Individuals who do not suffer from EPI but experience poor digestion (e.g. lactose intolerance), also benefit from digestive enzymes obtained from yeast or fungi (i.e. lactase) [**].

There are also natural digestive enzymes like bromelain from pineapple [*],  and papain from papaya [*]. These natural plant-based digestive enzymes support healthy digestion. 

There are many non-prescription digestive enzyme supplements available in the market. These formulas contain digestive enzymes from varying sources (e.g. animal, plant, fungus, and microorganisms). Some also contain probiotics to promote overall healthy digestion. 

The popularity of Digestive Enzyme Supplements has led to hundreds of brands flooding the marketplace; however not all supplements are created equal! Unfortunately, more than 90% of digestive enzymes in the market simply DON’T WORK!

We understand the challenges in finding the right supplement for your health needs. That’s why we gathered years of research and made this guide to help you find the top-rated formulas that work for you.

Things To Be Cautious About

Has your brand been third-party tested? You should never buy supplements that don’t have Certificate of Analysis. The studies should be conducted in labs that are not affiliated with the manufacturer. These labs verify the product for safety and potency.

Does your digestive enzymes contain cheap synthetic fillers? Some brands add artificial fillers to cut cost to offer cheap products. Some of these cheap fillers we found were titanium dioxide and artificial coloring. You should never purchase cheap products when it comes to supplements.

No return policy or customer service – A reputable supplement company will offer 100% money-back guarantee policy and provide customer support through phone number and email. We noticed many formulas out there are just copies of the top-rated brands. They don’t offer an easy refund policy or don’t even have a phone number to prove they are real.

Top 5 Digestive Enzyme Supplements

The result: we reviewed over 100+ brands of Digestive Enzyme Supplements in the market and complied a list of top 5 formulas based on effectiveness, safety, pricing, return policy, and overall customer satisfaction.

1. Thorne Bio-Gest

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

2. Life Extension Super Digestive Enzymes

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

3. Pure Encapsulations Digestive Enzymes Ultra

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

4. Doctor’s Best Digestive Enzymes

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

5. Solaray Super Digestaway

*Individual Results May Vary – Ratings are based on Society Health Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.

Ranking Factors

Shipping & Return Policy: we check the shipping and return policy of each recommended product to make sure these brands stand behind their products.

Customer Service: we contact the top rated brands through email, chat or phone to make sure they are responsive and can answer potential questions customers might have.

Essential Ingredients: we verify the ingredients in every top rated brands, their safety and dosage amount in comparison with the latest scientific studies.

Overall Effectiveness: we check with real customers through their reviews and testimonials to make sure the top brands are as effective as they claim to be. We recommend the top 5 formulas based on their average score.

We highly recommend our reader to do their own research, read real reviews and contact any brands directly to make sure they can provide the products and services based on their needs.

*This is a subjective assessment based on the strength of the available information and our independent research and customer feedback. Results may vary based on individual.

Disclosure of Material Connection: we only recommend products and services which we believe will add value to the users. However, you should assume the owner of this website and/or blog has an affiliate relationship and/or another material connection, to any suppliers of goods and services that may be discussed here and may be compensated for showing ads or recommending products or services or linking to the supplier’s website.

Sources and Citations

1. Pancreatic Insufficiency https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555926/
2. Digestive Enzyme Supplementation in… https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4923703/
3. The role of enzyme supplementation in digestive disorders https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19152478/