Can digestive enzymes and probiotics be used long term?

1. Effects of digestive enzymes and probiotics

According to MSc. BSCKII. Nguyen Thi Song Thao, Deputy Head of the Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Friendship Hospital, digestive enzymes are enzymes (also known as enzymes) secreted by digestive glands to help digest and absorb food. For example, the salivary glands secrete amylase to digest starch, the stomach secretes pepsin to digest protein, the pancreas secretes lipase to digest lipids, protease to digest protein, lactase... to digest sugar and fiber.

Currently, there are many digestive enzyme products on the market, usually enzymes from the stomach, saliva and pancreas, which are formulated to help break down large food chunks into small food pieces and gradually into nutrients such as simple sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids for the body to absorb.

Meanwhile, probiotics, also known as probiotics, are beneficial bacteria that live in the intestines. These beneficial bacteria participate in the final stage of food digestion and protect the large intestine, preventing the growth of harmful bacteria, limiting digestive infections, overcoming intestinal dysbiosis, and helping the immune system in the intestines to increase its activity.

Doctors may prescribe probiotic supplements in cases of intestinal bacterial imbalance leading to digestive disorders...

Digestive enzymes help digest and absorb food.

2. How to use digestive enzymes properly?

MSc. BSCKII. Nguyen Thi Song Thao said that digestive enzymes can be used in cases of digestive enzyme secretion disorders, leading to digestive disorders, bloating, slow digestion... The digestive system of young children is not yet complete and the amount of digestive enzymes secreted is often not enough, there may be anorexia accompanied by malnutrition, loose stools... then digestive enzymes can also be supplemented according to the doctor's instructions.

However, digestive enzymes should not be used continuously or for more than 2 weeks. Because prolonged abuse can cause a state of negative feedback, causing the organs in the body to reduce the secretion of digestive enzymes, which will eventually cause the failure and loss of function of these glands. This needs special attention because nowadays, many parents arbitrarily give their children digestive enzymes as a measure to stimulate appetite, Master. Doctor Nguyen Thi Song Thao emphasized.

Besides, in addition to the effect of digesting food, supplementing too much digestive enzymes also erodes the self-protective mechanism of mucus in the stomach and intestines, leading to gastric and duodenal ulcers.

When using, it is best to supplement digestive enzymes with meals or immediately after meals. Do not use when hungry because it can irritate the stomach lining, easily leading to ulcers.

People with hyperacidity, gastritis and pancreatitis should not use digestive enzymes because supplemental digestive enzymes will aggravate the disease and cause more severe digestive ulcers.

MSc.BSCKII. Nguyen Thi Song Thao, Deputy Head of the Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Friendship Hospital, emphasized that one should not arbitrarily supplement digestive enzymes and probiotics for a long time.

3. How to use probiotics

MSc.BSCKII. Nguyen Thi Song Thao said that probiotics are often used in cases where patients use antibiotics for a long time, leading to an imbalance in the intestinal microflora. Because antibiotics have the side effect of destroying beneficial bacteria in the intestines and creating conditions for harmful bacteria to grow, especially helping anaerobic bacteria spread, causing difficult-to-treat abdominal pain, loose stools, diarrhea... Probiotics are also recommended in cases of acute diarrhea caused by viruses.

However, all of these cases should only be used for a short period of time. Patients who take antibiotics without experiencing adverse gastrointestinal symptoms should not take probiotics.

When supplementing probiotics, you should drink them about 30 minutes before meals. At that time, the stomach is empty, so that these beneficial bacteria can quickly pass through the stomach and into the small intestine to minimize the beneficial bacteria being reduced by stomach acid. Probiotics should be mixed in cold water so that the beneficial bacteria can still live and be brought to the intestines to effectively protect the digestive system.

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/men-tieu-hoa-va-men-vi-sinh-co-dung-keo-dai-duoc-khong-172240218141108241.htm