Cheese enzymes: why are they needed and which ones are best to use?

Facts about pepsin

Pepsin was first discovered by a German physiologist named Theodor Schwann in 1836. It was one of the first digestive enzymes to be identified. It is still considered one of the most important. It was only more than 90 years later, in 1929, that scientists working at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research were able to determine exactly how it worked. This enzyme gets its name from the Greek word pepsis, meaning "digestion" (or from peptein, meaning "to digest").

Today, in addition to being used to make pepsin supplements, it is used for a variety of applications in food manufacturing, photography, tanning, and other industries. For example, commercially prepared pepsin is used to modify soy protein and gelatin. It is also used in the production of non-dairy snacks and processed cereals, the preparation of protein hydrolysates for use in food and beverage flavorings, and the removal of hair from fabrics/hides in the leather industry ().

Main signs of pancreatic enzyme deficiency

Identifying enzyme deficiencies is quite simple. The key symptoms are heaviness after eating, a feeling of fullness in the abdomen and abdominal discomfort. Often these symptoms are accompanied by bloating, rumbling, flatulence, and diarrhea. Most often, such symptoms can occur in ordinary situations: when eating heavy, fatty foods or when overeating, when it was simply impossible to resist eating a lot of tasty dishes. In this case, you should not be afraid of problems with the pancreas or other gastrointestinal diseases. The pancreas simply cannot cope with much work and may need help.

Why does diarrhea occur? Fats are the most difficult components of food to digest. If there is a lack of enzymes in the body, it is with the processing of fats that difficulties arise. As a result, undigested fats that are not decomposed by enzymes contribute to a change in the nature of the stool and the rapid movement of contents along the intestines, which provokes diarrhea8.

If a lack of enzymes and digestive problems persist for a long time, then this does not go unnoticed by the body. Symptoms may worsen and become regular rather than episodic. Constant diarrhea gives rise to vitamin deficiency; protein-energy deficiency and dehydration throughout the body can develop. Significant weight loss may occur. In addition, in severe stages, the following symptoms of pancreatic enzyme deficiency may be observed8:

• nausea and vomiting;
• heartburn;
• a sharp decrease in appetite;
• general weakness.

The benefits and harms of pepsin

The main positive features of this enzyme are:

• Rapid coagulation of milk and formation of a milk clot, thereby preserving a large amount of nutrients, vitamins and microelements.
• The presence of beneficial bacteria that have a positive effect on the digestion of the product and intestinal microflora, which is the prevention of certain diseases.
• In order to prepare cheese, you will not need to create harsh conditions that need to be maintained for a long time, and therefore you can make a cheese product at home yourself

The disadvantage of pepsin is that it must be used only in fresh form, since otherwise there will be no positive result when making cheese. Otherwise, the use of the enzyme is simple and convenient in the manufacture of the product.

The appearance of digestive problems

We have found that digestive problems can occur due to a lack of enzymes. There are two main mechanisms by which the body lacks pancreatic enzymes. In the first option, the problem with the production of enzymes lies in the pancreas itself, i.e. the organ itself is not functioning properly.

Impairment of the pancreas can be a congenital problem or acquired, for example, after surgical interventions. As a rule, such a mechanism underlies serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), the symptoms of which will sooner or later lead to an appointment with a doctor8.

In the second option, the conditions under which enzymes can work correctly are violated. This is possible as a result of changes in the acidity of the intestinal environment, for example, due to inflammation or a change in the standard ambient temperature (36-37 ° C). The inflammatory process in the intestines can occur under various conditions: intestinal infections, allergic reactions (food allergies, atopic dermatitis).

Analogues of Acidin-Pepsin

The main analogues are represented by the following drugs: Betacid, Pepsamine and Acipepsol.

Also have a similar effect: Creon, Pancreatin, Penzital, Festal, Mezim Forte, Abomin, Longidaza, Panolez and so on.

Indications for use

The main indications for the use of Acidin-Pepsin are various gastrointestinal diseases , which are characterized by decreased secretory function of the stomach. Therefore, the drug is recommended for:

• hypoacid gastritis;
• anacid gastritis;
• achilia – absence of synthesis of hydrochloric acid and other digestive enzymes in atrophic gastritis, diet lacking proteins and vitamins, cirrhosis of the liver, malignant form of anemia, endocrine disorders;
• dyspepsia;
• period after removal of part of the stomach.

Preparations for external use are used in the treatment of keloid scars or necrotic, non-healing wounds and ulcers.

Maintaining digestion and treating enzyme deficiencies

If you have problems with digestion, enzyme preparations (more often called drugs to improve digestion) can help, the main task of which is to compensate for the lack of the body’s own enzymes. It’s not for nothing that this therapy is called “enzyme replacement”. It is critical that the enzyme preparation “mimics” the physiological process as closely as possible.

Today, there are various drugs to improve digestion. How to navigate the variety of means and make the right choice?

An effective enzyme preparation must meet the following criteria5,6:

• have an optimal particle size
• do not break down in the stomach
• quickly activate in the intestines

The drug Creon® meets all these requirements.

To learn more

1) Today, pancreatin minimicrospheres, which are contained only in the drug Creon®5,7, are recognized as the optimal particles. The invention of minimicrospheres was the result of many years of work to improve the effectiveness of enzyme preparations, which left far behind drugs in the form of tablets and capsules with other types of particles inside: pellets, mini-tablets, etc. In addition, Creon® minimicrospheres are produced using patented technology, which prevents other manufacturers from reproducing the same release form.

2) Creon® minimicrospheres are enclosed in a capsule that protects them from the destructive effects of the stomach. But that is not all. Each particle is covered with an acid-resistant coating in order to “reach” the intestines, where its work is necessary, completely intact. At the same time, some other encapsulated drugs can lose up to 30% of their activity6.

3) Creon® begins to work within 15 minutes after entering the intestines, improving digestion and thereby eliminating heaviness and discomfort after eating6.

Creon® has several dosages, including 10,000 IU of lipase - the minimum required dose of lipase to improve digestion in case of dietary errors, eating heavy foods and overeating. To obtain the effect, Creon®10000, like any enzyme preparation, must be taken with every meal - during breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Acidin-Pepsin, instructions for use (Method and dosage)

According to the instructions for Acidin-Pepsin, the drug in tablets is intended for oral administration at the same time or after meals. To do this, the tablets need to be dissolved in 50-100 ml of water. For adult patients, a daily dosage of 2 tablets, taken 3-4 times, is recommended. The children's dosage is a quarter or half of a tablet taken 3-4 times a day.

The duration of the therapeutic course depends on the course of the disease and the effectiveness of treatment, which can be determined by a specialist.