top of page
HealthyFox-logo-01-1320x528.png
HF-LOGO-Name-1320x710.png

What us D.E.Z and why should you Focus on your Digestive Health

Writer: Healthy FoxHealthy Fox
Feb 46 min read

Updated: Feb 8

“Why eat high quality foods if you’re not absorbing any of it? This is a common problem for many people, with low stomach acid and GI’s that can’t break food down. This causes poor nutritional status as well as being more susceptible to parasites and other bugs! This product assists healthy stomach acid levels and adds a myriad of enzymes along with ox bile to digest any type of carbohydrate, fat and protein. Clients feel better after meals and even report having flatter stomachs!” Bryce 




D.E.Z: Digestive Enzyme Support for Optimal Digestion

D.E.Z is a proprietary blend of digestive enzymes along with betaine hydrochloride (HCl) to support the optimal digestion of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. This product contains the special protease dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV), which aids in the breakdown of the peptides gluteomorphin (from gluten), casomorphin (from casein), and soymorphin (from soy). D.E.Z also includes the enzyme lactase, which helps break down the dairy sugar, lactose. The use of D.E.Z with meals may be helpful for individuals who experience gas and bloating after eating, occasional diarrhea, occasional constipation, or a feeling of fullness after eating only a small quantity of food.


Ingredient Highlights:

  • Pancreatic Enzymes to support protein, fat, and carbohydrate digestion

  • Betaine HCl to support protein digestion and nutrient absorption

  • Ox Bile to support fat emulsification



Key Ingredients and Their Benefits:

Betaine HCl


Gastric acid or HCl secretion plays an important role as one of the first steps in digestion and absorption. It denatures proteins, unraveling them to provide proteases with more surface area to work upon. It also helps modulate acidity levels, which triggers the release of bicarbonate in the duodenum to create the alkaline environment required for optimal efficacy of pancreatic enzymes in the small intestine. Proper gastric pH levels, largely regulated by stomach acid, are essential for the digestion and absorption of important nutrients like iron, vitamins B6, B9, and B12, calcium, and certain medications. The presence of sufficient HCl also provides protection against microorganisms, eradicating potential pathogens. Low stomach acid is associated with conditions like malnutrition, functional dyspepsia, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), and microbial infections such as those from Clostridium difficile¹–⁴.


Acute and chronic stress, aging, Helicobacter pylori infection, autoimmune metaplastic atrophic gastritis, and some medications can cause hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid). Studies suggest that betaine HCl supplementation may help reduce gastric pH temporarily in individuals with hypochlorhydria to aid digestion and absorption ¹,⁵,⁶.


Pancreatic Enzymes (Amylases, Pepsin, Proteases, Glucoamylase, Lactase, Invertase, Lipase)


The pancreas produces enzymes necessary for the digestion and absorption of food. These include lipases (which break down fats), proteases (which break down proteins), and amylases (which break down starches). Deficiencies in pancreatic enzymes may lead to malabsorption and symptoms like weight loss, bloating, steatorrhea (fatty stools), and other digestive discomforts ⁷–¹⁰.


Research shows that enzyme support can be beneficial for disorders associated with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Conditions such as pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and functional dyspepsia may benefit from enzyme supplementation. Lipase supplementation before a high-fat meal has also been shown to benefit individuals with postprandial distress syndrome, helping with stomach fullness ⁷–⁸, ¹¹–¹⁵.


Ox Bile Extract


Bile is a complex aqueous secretion from the liver that helps emulsify fats for absorption in the intestine. It is composed of bile salts, bilirubin, phospholipids, cholesterol, amino acids, steroids, enzymes, vitamins, heavy metals, exogenous drugs, and toxins. The primary bile acids, cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid, are conjugated with glycine or taurine to form bile salts, which are released into the intestine during digestion to assist fat emulsification.


Disruptions in bile secretion and flow due to liver or gallbladder issues, or disturbances in the gut microbiome, can impact fat digestion and absorption. Studies show that supplementing with bile salts may support bile acid metabolism, reduce neuroinflammation in multiple sclerosis, aid in intestinal mucosa healing, and improve conditions like nonalcoholic fatty liver disease ¹⁶–²⁵.


Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV (DPP IV)


DPP IV is an enzyme that aids in the digestion of food-derived opioid peptides, such as those found in casein, wheat, and soy (beta-casomorphin, gluteomorphin, and soymorphin, respectively). Opioid peptides may bind to opioid receptors in the body, potentially leading to discomfort in sensitive individuals. DPP IV helps hydrolyze these peptides, reducing their activity and supporting digestion for individuals who experience discomfort from foods containing gluten or other peptides. This enzyme may be especially helpful for individuals who require additional digestive support after consuming foods that may trigger discomfort, such as gluten, dairy, or soy ²⁶,²⁷.


References 


  1. Yago MR, Frymoyer AR, Smelick GS, et al. Gastric reacidification with betaine HCl in healthy volunteers with rabeprazole-induced hypochlorhydria. Mol Pharm. 2013;10(11):4032-4037. doi:10.1021/mp4003738¹.


  2. Schubert ML. Physiologic, pathophysiologic, and pharmacologic regulation of gastric acid secretion. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2017;33(6):430-438. doi:10.1097/MOG.0000000000000392².


  3. Martinsen TC, Fossmark R, Waldum HL. The phylogeny and biological function of gastric juice-microbiological consequences of removing gastric acid. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(23):6031. doi:10.3390/ijms20236031³.


  4. Iwai W, Abe Y, Iijima K, et al. Gastric hypochlorhydria is associated with an exacerbation of dyspeptic symptoms in female patients. J Gastroenterol. 2013;48(2):214-221. doi:10.1007/s00535-012-0634-8⁴.


  5. Yago MR, Frymoyer A, Benet LZ, et al. The use of betaine HCl to enhance dasatinib absorption in healthy volunteers with rabeprazole-induced hypochlorhydria. AAPS J. 2014;16(6):1358-1365. doi:10.1208/s12248-014-9673-9⁵.


  6. Yago MR, Frymoyer AR, Smelick GS, et al. Gastric reacidification with betaine HCl in healthy volunteers with rabeprazole-induced hypochlorhydria. Mol Pharm. 2013;10(11):4032-4037. doi:10.1021/mp4003738¹.


  7. Majeed M, Majeed S, Nagabhushanam K, et al. Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of a multienzyme complex in patients with functional dyspepsia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Med Food. 2018;21(11):1120-1128. doi:10.1089/jmf.2017.4172⁶.


  8. Swami OC, Sha NJ. Functional dyspepsia and the role of digestive enzymes supplement in its therapy. Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2017;6(5):1035-1041. doi:10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20171653⁷.


  9. Omer A, Quigley EMM. Carbohydrate maldigestion and malabsorption. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018;16(8):1197-1199. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2018.01.048⁸.


  10. Alkaade S, Vareedayah AA. A primer on exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, fat malabsorption, and fatty acid abnormalities. Am J Manag Care. 2017;23(12 suppl):S203-S209. Link⁹.


  11. Levine ME, Koch SY, Koch KL. Lipase supplementation before a high-fat meal reduces perceptions of fullness in healthy subjects. Gut Liver. 2015;9(4):464-469. doi:10.5009/gnl14005¹⁰.


  12. Singh VK, Haupt ME, Geller DE, Hall JA, Quintana Diez PM. Less common etiologies of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. World J Gastroenterol. 2017;23(39):7059-7076. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i39.7059¹¹.


  13. Löhr JM, Oliver MR, Frulloni L. Synopsis of recent guidelines on pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. United European Gastroenterol J. 2013;1(2):79-83. doi:10.1177/2050640613476500¹².


  14. Leeds JS, Hopper AD, Sidhu R, et al. Some patients with irritable bowel syndrome may have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010;8(5):433-438. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2009.09.032¹³.


  15. Perbtani Y, Forsmark CE. Update on the diagnosis and management of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. F1000Res. 2019;8:F1000 Faculty Rev-1991. doi:10.12688/f1000research.20779.1¹⁴.


  16. Boyer JL. Bile formation and secretion. Compr Physiol. 2013;3(3):1035-1078. doi:10.1002/cphy.c120027¹⁵.


  17. Joyce SA, Gahan CG. Disease-associated changes in bile acid profiles and links to altered gut microbiota. Dig Dis. 2017;35(3):169-177. doi:10.1159/000450907¹⁶.


  18. Ticho AL, Malhotra P, Dudeja PK, Gill RK, Alrefai WA. Intestinal absorption of bile acids in health and disease. Compr Physiol. 2019;10(1):21-56. doi:10.1002/cphy.c190007¹⁷.


  19. Wahlström A, Sayin SI, Marschall HU, Bäckhed F. Intestinal crosstalk between bile acids and microbiota and its impact on host metabolism. Cell Metab. 2016;24(1):41-50. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2016.05.005¹⁸.


  20. Chiang JY. Bile acid metabolism and signaling. Compr Physiol. 2013;3(3):1191-1212. doi:10.1002/cphy.c120023¹⁹.


  21. Li T, Apte U. Bile acid metabolism and signaling in cholestasis, inflammation, and cancer. Adv Pharmacol. 2015;74:263-302. doi:10.1016/bs.apha.2015.04.003²⁰.


  22. Bhargava P, Smith MD, Mische L, et al. Bile acid metabolism is altered in multiple sclerosis and supplementation ameliorates neuroinflammation. J Clin Invest. 2020;130(7):3467-3482. doi:10.1172/JCI129401²¹.


  23. Zahiri HR, Perrone EE, Strauch ED. Bile salt supplementation acts via the farnesoid X receptor to alleviate lipopolysaccharide-induced intestinal injury. Surgery. 2011;150(3):480-489. doi:10.1016/j.surg.2011.07.008²².


  24. Quintero P, Pizarro M, Solís N, et al. Bile acid supplementation improves established liver steatosis in obese mice independently of glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion. J Physiol Biochem. 2014;70(3):667-674. doi:10.1007/s13105-014-0336-1²³.


  25. Perrone EE, Liu L, Turner DJ, Strauch ED. Bile salts increase epithelial cell proliferation through HuR-induced c-Myc expression. J Surg Res. 2012;178(1):155-164. doi:10.1016/j.jss.2012.02.029²⁴.


  26. Arısoy S, Üstün-Aytekin Ö. Hydrolysis of food-derived opioids by dipeptidyl peptidase IV from Lactococcus lactis spp. lactis. Food Res Int. 2018;111:574-581. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2018.05.068²⁵.


  27. Ehren J, Morón B, Martin E, Bethune MT, Gray GM, Khosla C. A food-grade enzyme preparation with modest gluten detoxification properties. PLoS One. 2009;4(7):e6313. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006313²⁶.

 
 
 

Comentarios

bottom of page