How we measure enzymes and why it matters

Enzyme Science

September 6, 2023

Enzyme Science is the practitioner division of Enzymedica. Enzymes are the heart and soul of their business and they’ve been renowned as enzyme experts since 1998. Using unparalleled standards of quality, Enzyme Science makes exceptional formulas for natural digestive health and wellness, sourced from the finest ingredients and validated by science.

Producing products you can trust and use in your practices – is not something they take lightly. Measuring enzymes in the correct way is a factor that contributes to ensuring product quality.

Read on to learn more about how enzymes are measured and how to explain enzymatic activity to your clients.

HOW ENZYMES ARE MEASURED

Quality enzymes list the number of units, not their weight. While other supplements list a weight for each ingredient (e.g., milligrams and grams), enzymes should always be measured by activity units. To test enzyme activity units, Enzyme Science uses the internationally recognized standard called the Food Chemical Codex. This is a collection of standards for the purity and identity of food ingredients. Each type of enzyme has its own FCC unit activity abbreviation.

Here is a chart showing the enzymes used in Enzyme Science products, along with their role(s) and unit of measure.

Enzyme Name	Unit of Measure	Roles
Acid Stable Protease	Spectrophotometric Acid Protease Units (SAPU)	Breaks down protein
Alpha-Galactosidase	Galactosidase Units (GalU)	Breaks down raw vegetables and legumes (beans, peas and lentils)
Amylase Thera-blend™	Dextrinizing Units (DU)	Breaks down starches (carbohydrates) into smaller sugars
Beta Glucanase	Beta Glucanase Units (BGU)	Helps break down glucose bonds associated with grains (barley, oats, wheat)
Bromelain	Gelatin Digesting Units (GDU)	Breaks down protein. Derived from pineapple
Catalase	Baker Units (BU/Baker)	Antioxidant that breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen
Cellulase Thera-blend™	Cellulase Units (CU)	Breaks down cellulose to help free nutrients in fruits and vegetables
DPP-IV	Dipeptidyl Peptidase Units (DPPU/HUT)	Breaks down protein, especially gluten and casein peptides
Glucoamylase	Amyloglucosidase Units (AGU)	Works with amylase to break down carbohydrates into glucose units
Hemicellulase	Hemicellulase Units (HCU)	Helps breaks down hemicellulose (a carbohydrate) found in plant foods
Invertase	Sumner Units (SU)	Breaks down sucrose into simple sugars (glucose and fructose)
Lactase	Acid Lactase Units (ALU)	Breaks down lactose (milk sugar)
Lipase Thera-blend™	Federation Internationale Pharmaceutique (FIP)	Breaks down dietary fats
Maltase (Diastase)	Degrees of Diastatic Power (DP)	Breaks down carbohydrates, malt and grain sugars into glucose
Mucolase™	Milligrams (mg)	Breaks down excess mucus
Nattokinase	Fibrinolytic Units (FU)	Breaks down fibrin and supports production of plasmin
Papain	Papain Units (PU)	Breaks down protein. Derived from papaya
Pectinase	Endo Polygalacturonase Units (Endo-PGU)	Breaks down carbohydrates such as pectin found in many fruits and vegetables
Protease Thera-blend™	Hemoglobin Units on a Tyrosine Basis (HUT)	Breaks down protein
Phytase	Phytase Units (FTU)	Breaks down phytic acid in plants, grains and legumes and helps with mineral absorption
Serratiopeptidase (aka Serrapeptase)	Serratiopeptidase Units/Serrapeptase Units (SPU/SU)	Breaks down proteins, fibrin and mucus
Superoxide Dismutase	International Units (IU)	Provides antioxidant defense by inactivating excess free radicals
Xylanase	Xylanase Units (XU)	Breaks down soluble fibre

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ENZYME SCIENCE SUPPLEMENTS FACTS LABELS

Enzyme Science lists the activity units for each enzyme. You’ll also notice what’s not included in their supplements: no egg, dairy, preservatives, salt, sucrose, soy, wheat, yeast, nuts, corn, gluten, casein, potato and artificial colors and flavors.

Additionally, their Thera-blend™ technology sets them apart from other brands. The Thera-blend process is scientifically designed to ensure their enzymes remain active across the broad pH range found in the human body. Instead of including a single protease, amylase, cellulase or lipase enzyme, Enzyme Science blends multiple variants that work synergistically.