They say you are what you eat—but a more accurate measure would be you are what nutrients you absorb. When it comes to absorption, digestive enzymes are crucial. “The best digestive enzymes, whether natural or in supplemental form, help ensure your food is properly broken down so your body can absorb the nutrients,” explains nutritionist and founder of Grounded Nourishment Meg Gerber, RD, IFNCP, CGN. Optimal nutrient absorption, in turn, helps power your body with energy to grow and perform vital functions.
Vogue’s Favorite Digestive Enzymes:Best Overall
MaryRuth Organics Ultra Digestive Enzyme Capsules
Jump to reviewBest for Fats or Protein
Thorne Advanced Digestive Enzymes
There are many types of digestive enzymes and specific enzymes break down specific macronutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, dairy, and fiber). “We naturally make our own digestive enzymes, mainly in the salivary glands, pancreas, and small intestines,” says Brooklyn-based nutritionist Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN. “But a digestive enzyme supplement is a solution to help support digestion for those with a clear diagnosis of an intolerance or insufficiency that impairs the body’s ability to break down nutrients.” Some of these issues could inhibit your body’s ability to produce enough digestive enzymes to digest food smoothly, and left unchecked they could lead to uncomfortable side effects around meal time like cramping, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and more.
There’s a lot to consider when it comes to digestive enzymes, especially since they aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so we asked nutritionists and dietitians for their ultimate tips to find the best digestive enzymes on the market to support digestive health.
In This Story:Best Overall Digestive Enzyme: MaryRuth Organics Ultra Digestive Enzyme Capsules
MaryRuth Organics
Ultra Digestive Enzyme Capsules
Why We Love It: If you want more from your digestive enzymes, MaryRuth Organics delivers. These capsules not only contain a powerful essential enzyme blend, but also vitamins B1, B6, B12, calcium, magnesium, amla, and more for full-on support. “For most people I recommend a broad-spectrum blend that contains amylase, protease, lipase, lactase, cellulase which will help to digest a meal with a variety of ingredients,” says founder of Real Nutrition Amy Shapiro MS, RD, CND. One capsule a day delivers digestive support for optimal nutrient absorption, increased energy levels, and overall better gut health.Key Ingredients: Protease, Amylase, Thiamin, B6, B12, CalciumDigestive Enzymes: Protease, amylase, glucoamylase, diastase, invertase, pectinase, cellulase, hemicellulase, xylanase, lipase, lactase, alpha-galactosidase, and beta-glucanaseForm: CapsuleCertifications: Vegan, Non-GMO Project verified, GMP certified, dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free, soy-free, sugar-free, Clean Label Project certified, B Corp certifiedServing Size: 1 capsuleNumber of Servings: 60Best Digestive Enzyme for Fats or Protein: Thorne Advanced Digestive Enzymes
Thorne
Advanced Digestive Enzymes
Why We Love It: Thorne sets the gold standard for quality and performance, thanks, in part, to their stringent testing and contributions from independent researchers from places like Mayo Clinic and the National Institutes of Health. “I like to look for formulas made with clean ingredients, free from fillers or artificial ingredients, that have been third-party-tested for quality and purity,” says Shapiro. Thorne delivers on all fronts—not only does it include a comprehensive blend of hydrochloric acid, pepsin, pancreatin, composed of amylase, lipase, and protease, and ox bile to ease digestive discomfort, but the brand also puts the formula through four rounds of testing to make sure it’s top-tier in quality and performance. Especially brilliant to soothe bloat after meals heavy in fats or red meat, the brand also recommends it as a tool for those who’ve undergone gallbladder removal. The formula also doesn’t contain lactose, which is often used to dilute pepsin and pancreatin, so it’s an amazing option for those who are lactose intolerant.Key Ingredients: Hydrochloric acid, pepsin, pancreatin, and ox bileDigestive Enzymes: Amylase, lipase, and proteaseForm: CapsuleCertifications: NSF certified, GMP certified, third-party-testedServing Size: 2 capsulesNumber of Servings: 90Best Digestive Enzyme for Dairy or Gluten: Hilma Digestive EnzymesWhy We Love It: Some of the most common food sensitivities are lactose intolerance and gluten sensitivity. “Digestive enzyme supplements can make it possible for people who are lactose intolerant to tolerate, digest, and absorb nutrients in dairy products,” says Feller. This capsule helps target bloating and digestive discomfort associated with dairy or gluten triggers with a blend of protease enzymes, dandelion root, turmeric, and pepper—so don’t feel too guilty if you indulge in carbs from the bread basket. “Digestive enzymes are also a great tool for those who are dairy or gluten sensitive and need support when they eat out,” adds Gerber.Key Ingredients: Protease enzymes, dandelion root, turmeric, and pepperDigestive Enzymes: Protease, peptidase, lactase, lipaseForm: CapsuleCertifications: Clean Label Project certified, non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, third-party-testedServing Size: 1 capsuleNumber of Servings: 60Best Digestive Enzymes With Probiotics: Juna Detox Digestive Enzymes & Probiotics
Juna
Detox Digestive Enzymes & Probiotics
Why We Love It: Because they both affect digestion, some may confuse digestive enzymes with probiotics. “Enzymes are proteins that help break down food, decrease discomfort after meals, and allow for maximum nutrient absorption,” says Shapiro. “Probiotics are live bacteria that support your microbiome, help maintain balance in your gut, crowd out harmful bacteria, and support immunity, mood, and digestion.” Often, the best results come from using both. With five probiotics, 13 digestive enzymes, pomegranate, and herbs, this powerful capsule tackles digestion from a 360-degree approach.Key Ingredients: DigeSEB Plus PB, lemon balm, bitter melonDigestive Enzymes: Papain, bromelain, amylase, protease I, protease II, lipase, cellulase, phytase, bromelain, diastase, lactase, beta-glucanase, xylanase, pectinase, phytase alpha-galactosidaseForm: CapsuleCertifications: USDA organic, third-party-testedServing Size: 2 capsulesNumber of Servings: 30Best Vegan Digestive Enzyme: The Nue Co Debloat+ Anti-Bloat Supplement with Digestive Enzymes
Debloat+ Anti-Bloat Supplement with Digestive Enzymes
Why We Love It: If you want to soothe bloat or relieve discomfort after an occasional overindulgence, this capsule works right away to help alleviate symptoms of indigestion. Made with ingredients renowned in Ayurvedic medicine to treat gastrointestinal issues and 17 digestive enzymes, including alpha galactosidase which helps break down carbohydrates found in beans and cruciferous vegetables, a twice-daily dose can feel like a reset button for your digestive tract.Key Ingredients: Blend of digestive enzymes, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, and licorice rootDigestive Enzymes: Alpha amylase, protease (acid), maltase, alpha galactosidase, lipase, cellulase, phytase, bromelain, invertase, hemicellulase, glucoamylaseForm: CapsuleCertifications: Certified B Corp, non-GMO, vegan, sugar-freeServing Size: 2 capsulesNumber of Servings: 30Best Digestive Enzyme With Bromelain: Arrae BloatWhy We Love It: A favorite of board-certified integrative medicine physician and women’s health medical director at Function Health Tiffany Lester, MD, this capsule’s star ingredient is bromelain, a powerful protein-digesting enzyme extracted from pineapple. “Pineapple and papaya are two amazing natural sources of digestive enzymes,” says Dr. Lester. “Bromelain (from pineapple) and papain (from papaya) are what we call proteolytic enzymes which help break down proteins.” Beyond bromelain, it’s also made with powerful, digestion-loving herbs like ginger extract, peppermint leaf, lemon balm, and dandelion root extract to alleviate bloat. It also delivers results in record time. According to the brand’s independent clinical study, you can feel immediate relief in one hour and it’s clinically proven to reduce bloating by 86% in one month after daily use. For more information, read our review here.Editor’s Experience: “For me, I found it significantly improved my bloating symptoms after overindulging. Following too much pasta or one too many sweet treats, my stomach gets quite sensitive—resulting in a feeling of tightness and a distended, rumbling tummy. Nearing the hour mark after taking it, my symptoms subside almost completely and my body feels calmer—an impressive result, considering that without it I’d feel discomfort through the next morning.” —Kiana Murden, beauty editor, shoppingKey Ingredients: Ginger root, bromelain, lemon balm, dandelion root, peppermint, slippery elmDigestive Enzymes: BromelainForm: CapsuleCertifications: Non-GMO, vegan, nut-free, cruelty-freeServing Size: 2 capsulesNumber of Servings: 60Best Digestive Bitters: Flora Swedish BittersWhy We Love It: For those looking for a more natural option for digestion support, Dr. Lester recommends trying digestive bitters. “I always have digestive bitters in my bag,” she says. “I put a dropper in a glass of room temperature water about 15 to 20 minutes before my food even arrives to help aid with digestion.” The idea is that bitterness in food plays a crucial part of digestion—it can stimulate bile production which can aid in digestive support. “We typically don’t consume enough bitter foods in our daily diets,” says Dr. Lester. “It can be an acquired taste but I love it as a non-capsule option.” The original herbal bitters formula originally developed by Austrian herbalist Maria Treben is alcohol-free (many recipes contain trace amounts) and can help keep digestion moving.Key Ingredients: Zedoary root, cape aloe leaf, manna sap, rhubarb (Rheum palmatum) root, senna leaf, myrrh resin, carline thistle root, camphor wood, valerian root, cinnamon barkDigestive Enzymes: N/AForm: LiquidCertifications: USDA organic, Non-GMO Project verified, QAI certifiedServing Size: 1 teaspoonNumber of Servings: 20Everything You Need to Know
What are digestive enzymes?
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Many people don’t know that we naturally make our own digestive enzymes, with the pancreas producing the most important enzymes (often referred to as pancreatic enzymes). “One of the main functions of the pancreas is to secrete digestive enzymes into the small intestine with each meal,” says Feller. “Digestive enzymes help to break down protein, fats, and carbohydrates into more simple compounds that can be absorbed by the body.”
Do digestive enzyme pills actually work?
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Yes, they can. “It ultimately depends on the individual and the condition being treated,” says Shapiro. “But many people do find them helpful and I do recommend them to ease symptoms like bloating or indigestion.” It goes without saying but the best results from digestive enzyme pills comes when you take them as directed or as instructed by a health professional. Shapiro also likes to recommend them for clients when traveling to help ease digestion when eating foods or at times they’re not accustomed to.
What to look for in digestive enzyme supplements?
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When deciding between digestive enzyme supplements, you ideally want a broad-spectrum product that includes enzymes to break down all types of macronutrients, explains Gerber. “For example, amylase, lactase, sucrase, and maltase break down carbohydrates; proteases like pepsin and chymotrypsin help break down proteins; and lipase helps break down fats,” she says. “Some products contain extra lactase for those who are more dairy sensitive or a protease known as DPP-IV to help with those who are gluten sensitive.”
Who should take digestive enzymes?
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Generally people who struggle with any sort of digestion issue—IBS, bloating, fullness after meals, acid reflux, or stomach pain with certain foods—are ideal candidates for digestive enzymes. “Aging, stress, and certain conditions like autoimmune diseases can also lead to suboptimal digestive enzyme output,” says Gerber. “Therefore taking enzymes with meals can be supportive.”
It’s also worth noting that having a clear diagnosis of a health condition (think intolerance or insufficiency) that impairs the body’s ability to break down certain nutrients from a professional can help you distinguish the right digestive enzyme for your needs. “For example, dairy digest supplements and lactase enzymes may not be the same,” says Feller. “Some formulations have varying amounts of lactase so the digestive enzyme may or may not work as intended depending on the individual and how much dairy is consumed.”
Dr. Lester favors a proactive approach—clinical guidance and testing to check levels to assess any imbalances. “In medical school we’re typically taught to check these enzymes when something is wrong, like bloating, nausea, vomiting, or a sign of a condition like irritable bowel syndrome,” says Dr. Lester. “But everyone should know their baseline as a first step—that way you know when your body is telling you that something is off—even if it’s just a whisper.” Function Health, where Dr. Lester is the women’s health medical director, offers testing for amylase and lipase—two prominent pancreatic enzymes—which you may not typically test for in a regular routine physical. “It helps assess pancreatic function,” says Dr. Lester. “It can help detect if you have elevated or low levels which can mean the pancreas is inflamed, impaired, or, while rare, indicate elevated levels signs of something more serious like pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer.”
Which is better: digestive enzymes or probiotics?
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Both digestive enzymes and probiotics can support gut health because they work differently. However, if you’re someone who needs a digestive enzyme, a probiotic isn’t necessarily a swap because it doesn’t support the same activity. “Digestive enzymes work to break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates to make them digestible and absorbable, whereas probiotics don’t break down protein, fat, and carbohydrates,” says Feller. “Probiotics help to maintain beneficial bacteria in the gut, which can support the gut microbiome.”
Are digestive enzymes okay to take everyday?
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Dr. Lester says that digestive enzymes are generally deemed safe and do not cause side effects. They’re effective and safe to take regularly, before or after meals (about three times a day). If you don’t know if it’s working, it could be worth doing a trial and test period to see how your body adjusts. “Most people feel the difference pretty quickly when taking the right digestive enzymes,” she says. “But it may take a bit of time for your digestive system to heal so you generally want to use them for about two weeks before really assessing.” Just be sure to check-in with your health care professional to assess effectiveness.
The types of digestive enzymes
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The body naturally produces several types of digestive enzymes, each with a specific role in breaking down food, so nutrients can be absorbed and used effectively. Shapiro breaks them down, below:
Amylase: This digestive enzyme is produced in the saliva and pancreas. It breaks down carbohydrates into simpler sugars, helping to initiate digestion as soon as you start chewing, and supports steady energy by aiding carbohydrate metabolism.
Protease: Released primarily in the stomach and pancreas and responsible for breaking down proteins into amino acids. Amino acids are essential for muscle repair, hormone production, immune function, and enzyme synthesis throughout the body.
Lipase: Made in the pancreas, lipase breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol. Proper fat digestion is crucial for absorbing fat-soluble vitamins and supporting hormone production and brain health.
Lactase: Produced in the small intestine, lactase helps digest lactose, the natural sugar found in dairy. People with low lactase production may experience bloating, gas, or discomfort after consuming dairy-based products.
Sucrase and maltase: These enzymes, produced in the small intestine, break down specific sugars (sucrose and maltose) into absorbable glucose and fructose, supporting efficient carbohydrate digestion.
Peptidases: Found in the small intestine, peptidases further break down protein into individual amino acids so they can be absorbed into the bloodstream.
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When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to digestive enzyme supplements, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, form, serving size, certification, dietary notes, and the wellness concerns they address. To do this, we paired expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you.
AccordionItemContainerButtonMeg Gerber, RD, LDN, IFNCP, CGN, is a registered dietician, nutritionist, cofounder of digestive bitters brand JÜJ, and founder of Grounded Nourishment, a private functional nutrition practice in Austin.Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN, founder of Brooklyn-based Maya Feller Nutrition, is a registered dietitian nutritionist, author of Eating from Our Roots: 80+ Healthy Home-Cooked Favorites from Cultures Around the World and host of YouTube’s Where Wellbeing Meets Flavor.Tiffany Lester, MD, is a board-certified integrative medicine physician, founder of The Minimalist MD, and women’s health medical director at Function Health.Amy Shapiro MS, RD, CND, is a registered dietician, nutritionist and founder of Real Nutrition.