Enzymes and Gastritis?

[Guest guest]

Hi, Sherry. I certainly hope you are able to get something positive

to help your daughter. I have a few suggestions to mull over.

I don't know how well your GI person will consider enzymes, but

he/she and you know your daughter's condition best. There is the

possibility that the rice bran mixed with the enzymes will be

degraded into a non-offending form by those very same enzymes. Many

children (and adults) have been able to eat foods they previously

could not even consider. I know this is the case for Peptizyde and

Zyme Prime. Zyme Prime seems to help with phenols for many, but not

all. So, you may be able to use a product containing rice bran if

that same product can sufficiently break down the rice bran.

You may be able to use an enzyme product that does not contain, or

contain much of, proteolytic enzymes. I am thinking of the ones for

carbs, lipids, fats, starches and such. These may not irritate your

daughter's gut as much as the proteases. Using something like this

may let you expand her menu some if not entirely.

Working up slowly in this direction, enzymes may be able to gradually

help heal her gut more so she will be able to tolerate more foods and

reduce her meds. Digestive enzymes have many healing effects as you

probably know. Maybe start with some carbs and starch enzymes which

will allow you to use rice more. With better nutrient uptake and

immune system support she may improve enough that you can start

adding more things.

I know nothing of Prevacid. My husband has just had a bout with

irritable bowel disease where he had internal bleeding for 3 days. He

has started taking Culturelle and the Zyme Prime with Peptizyde at

dinner. He said he is feeling better although he just started. I also

talked him into drinking the recommended 8 glasses of pure water a

couple months ago and he has lost 23 pounds so far (he needed it,

LOL). Anyway...he is using enzymes in this way to help.

As for the pureed diet, I don't see how that would hinder enzymes,

except that you may not need to use as many because the food is

already ground up. You could just stir the enzymes in the puree and

you are set. With her gut so inflammed, she may not be absorbing as

much nutrients as you would like, so the enzymes might help there.

Another angle is the fact that taking enzymes on an empty stomach is

known to help curb inflammation. I am not sure of the quantities or

type, but I have read this is often used to treat sports injuries.

Bromelain and Papain are used for this in particular.

I have lived most my life in pain - pure and simple. So, I am just

fishing around trying to brainstorm any possible way you might be

able to give your daughter relief. The things that helped most with

our pain is amitryptiline which you may want to ask your doctor

about. It is cheap and pretty effective. It is used for general pain

for many conditions. Peptizyde and Zyme Prime were the next best

thing to end the constant pain. I have tried two other enzyme

products and they were not effective in this.

Here is one more suggestion I just looked at. EnzyMedica has 5

products in their line that contain no fillers (no rice bran). One of

them is called Gastro. I sounds like it is designed for people with

gut problems that can't usually take enzymes.

Here is the information from the web site:

-----------------------

Gastro Helps alleviate conditions associated with gastro intestinal

distress!

Each 350 mg capsule of Gastro provides:

Amylase 2,500 DU

Lipase 186LU*

Cellulase 400 CU

Marshmallow Root 95 mg

Gotu Kola 48 mg

Papaya Leaf 95 mg

Prickly Ash Bark 55 mg

*1571LU[2]

90 capsules per bottle. No fillers.

Recommended Usage: 2 capsules with every meal or snack (when used

without DIGEST) and for gastrointestinal tract discomfort. 2-3

capsules may be taken after a meal when DIGEST is used at the

beginning of the meal. Take 2 or more Gastro capsules anytime in

place of antacids.

GASTRO is a soothing product for people who have been diagnosed and

are suffering from active or bleeding ulcers. If you are one of these

individuals, take 2 - 3 capsules of Gastro and the discomfort will

diminish. Continue taking Gastro with Purify and Digest with meals,

or anytime needed. With continued use, gastrointestinal discomfort

should disappear.

Indications:

Gastric or Duodenal ulcer

Gout

Crohn's Disease

Unexplained blood in urine

Gastritis

Heartburn

Diarrhea

Mucous congestion

Diverticulosis

Colitis

GASTRO was formulated for the person suffering from gastrointestinal

distress. Those afflicted with indigestion caused by gastric or

duodenal ulcer as well as those with a stressed gallbladder or liver

will benefit from using this product.

Those suffering from gout or heartburn have also found relief with

the use of Gastro.

Component Benefits:The ingredients in Gastro provide the body with

pure plant enzymes for delivery along with nutrients specific to the

gastrointestinal region.

Marshmallow Root has a high protein and mucilage-carbohydrate content

which the body can use to manufacture the necessary materials for new

tissue production. Marshmallow also has mucilaginous (adhesive)

properties enabling it to surround and expel foreign and toxic

matter, having a soothing effect on the inflamed mucosal membrane

tissue. Marshmallow has been found to relieve irritation and

inflammation of the mucous membranes of the respiratory and

gastrointestinal tracts and to help normalize mucous secretions. In

conditions where inflammation is induced by excess accumulation of

uric acid. Marshmallow Root helps remove this acid from the body.

Papaya Leaf has been known for its wonderful digestive work and

contains proteolytic (acts on protein) enzymes. Papaya Leaf has

inherited the reputation of 'biological scalpel " because it

selectively digests dead tissue without affecting the surrounding

live tissue. It has been used to treat many skin diseases, wounds and

ulcers. Papaya Leaf has properties to protect the stomach mucosa from

damage and ulcer formation.

Prickly Ash is known for its support of the glands and aid in tissue

repair, colic, ulcers and gastrointestinal distress. Prickly Ash will

fortify the nervous system as well.

Gota Kola is known in India as a longevity herb, it is uncommonly

rich in B vitamins and potassium and is used as a natural diuretic.

-----------------------------------

Here is the web site:http://www.enzymedica.com/carbo.shtml

EnzyMedica products can be bought in most health food stores,

sometimes a walgreen type store, and in some local grocers (ours has

them).

This is all I can think of at the moment. Please let me know how you

are coming along and what you decide. Best wishes.

.

[Guest guest]

This is one of those " grey " areas. On one hand, there is evidence

that proteolytic enzymes help heal soft tissue wounds and have anti-

inflammatory properties, while removing or debriding dead tissue. On

the other hand, one doesn't want to inflict more discomfort or harm

on a pre-existing condition.

The caveat against using enzymes for chronic gastritis is mostly a

CYA thing (covering your rear!). Companies don't want to take a

chance that someone will litigate because a product caused pain or

discomfort. Whether it is really warranted or not, I'm not sure. I

have just seen the disclaimer, but never really heard of an incident

where proteases have made gastritis worse.

Look at it this way: Proteases can irritate tissues, this is known,

just put bromelain on your moist skin for a few minutes, and it will

itch, and turn red. An open sore would probably feel even more

irritated. But there is one school of thought that the clearing away

of dead tissue from a wound is helpful and promotes healing. Enzymes

were used for debriding wounds caused by burns in the late 1950's.

For your situation, I would suggest trying a low protease enzyme

product. Other enzymes that do not break down proteins, but break

down carbs and fats would probably not be irritating to her, and

could provide a measure of help in her digestion.

Sorry that this is turning out to be a long way of saying " I don't

know for sure " . I will try and find info that can be more definitive

one way or another.

Devin

> Hi~ this is my first time posting and I have some

questions

> (like everyone else:-) I'm Sherry, mom to the senior citizen

who is 12

> and has a dx of Down Syndrome and Autism. I would love to try her

on these

> new enzymes but after a study of all suggested websites and

products today I

> fear that once again, she will not be a proper candidate. At first

I figured

> it was out of the question as she is on a pureed rotation diet

which limits

> rice to once every 4 days. Then with the news today that Kirkman's

enzymes

> are rice free I thought we might be able to try them.

> However after further study I noted Kirkman's caveat

that

> proteolytic enzymes " should not be taken in the absence of normal

gastric

> mucosa ie those with gastritis, ulcer " etc. is currently on

30 mg of

> Prevacid 2 times a day, after being dxed last year with severe

chronic

> gastritis (endoscopied due to esophageal bleeding). The meds have

definitely

> helped but I would prefer she not be on them forever. Every time we

try to

> cut back she shows sign of being in pain again.

> So my questions are #1- Does she have to get healthier

before she

> can get healthy? I mean are the enzymes totally out of the question

for her,

> considering the gastritis and prevacid (acid inhibitor)??

> And #2- would being on a pureed diet preclude the use

of enzymes

> or change the manner in which they should be administered?

> I will ask our GI doc of course but I have a feeling he

will say

> she does not need enzymes (he's already told us she doesn't need

supplements

> hmmm). She is gf/cf and almost everything else f and I would dearly

love to

> see her off of meds and out of pain. I am a great believer in

enzymes so this

> will be a pretty big disappointment if it is contraindicated in her

case. Is

> there doctor in the house?

>

> Sherry M in Florida, 's mom

>

>

>

>