If you have read the label of any Glorioso protein, you have probably seen the name DigeZyme®. It is part of our formulation, but its name alone says little about what it actually is.
DigeZyme® is a multi-enzyme complex that combines five different enzymes. To understand why it is present in our proteins, it is first necessary to understand what enzymes do during digestion and what we can—and cannot—expect from an ingredient of this type.
What is DigeZyme®
DigeZyme® is a multi-enzyme complex developed by Sabinsa. Its formulation combines five enzymes: amylase, protease, lipase, lactase, and cellulase.
Each one acts on a different type of food component.
Amylase participates in the breakdown of starch and other complex carbohydrates into smaller molecules.
Protease is involved in the hydrolysis of proteins, breaking the bonds that hold their amino acid chains together.
Lipase participates in the hydrolysis of lipids, transforming them into smaller components such as fatty acids and glycerol.
Lactase acts specifically on lactose, breaking it down into glucose and galactose.
Finally, cellulase acts on cellulose, a polysaccharide present in the cell walls of plants.
It is precisely this combination of enzymes with different activities that characterizes DigeZyme®.
What enzymes have to do with digestion
Our body naturally uses enzymes to process food.
Proteins, carbohydrates, and fats are made up of structures too large to be used directly as they reach the digestive system. During digestion, different physical and chemical processes are involved, including the action of enzymes that transform these structures into smaller components.
Proteases participate in the processing of proteins; amylases, in that of certain carbohydrates; and lipases, in that of fats.
That is why it makes sense to speak of DigeZyme® as a digestive enzyme complex.
It is a different matter to attribute specific effects to an enzyme supplement, such as preventing bloating, eliminating gas, or increasing protein absorption. The fact that an enzyme participates in a specific physiological process does not automatically mean that adding it to a food will produce all those effects.
This distinction is important, and we prefer to make it explicit.
So, why do we include DigeZyme® in Glorioso?
Our protein does not come from a single plant source.
We combine pea, rice, pumpkin, and sunflower proteins. Each has different nutritional characteristics, and their combination allows us to formulate a plant-based protein that does not rely exclusively on a single raw material.
Within that formulation, we also incorporate DigeZyme®.
We do not use it to present our protein as a product intended to treat digestive problems or as a substitute for a balanced diet. It is simply another component of a formulation in which we have decided to combine different protein sources with a multi-enzyme complex.
This way of explaining it may seem less spectacular than promising a protein that "eliminates bloating" or "is absorbed much better," but it is also a more rigorous description of what the product actually contains.
DigeZyme® and plant-based protein are not the same
There is another important distinction.
DigeZyme® is not protein and is not the ingredient responsible for the nutritional benefits associated with protein consumption.
It is proteins that contribute to the growth and maintenance of muscle mass and the maintenance of normal bones.
DigeZyme®, on the other hand, is the multi-enzyme complex we have incorporated into the formulation.
Separating the two avoids attributing benefits to one ingredient that actually belong to another.
Does DigeZyme® make protein absorb better?
Here it is advisable to avoid simplifications.
Proteases are physiologically involved in the hydrolysis of proteins. This is part of the process by which our body digests the proteins we ingest.
But it cannot be automatically concluded that a protein powder incorporating DigeZyme® will produce significantly higher absorption in any person or circumstance.
To claim such an effect, one would have to analyze the available evidence for the ingredient, the dosages used, the specific product, and the study conditions.
That is why at Glorioso we prefer to describe what DigeZyme® contains and what the function of its enzymes is, instead of turning that mechanism into a general promise of greater absorption.
Can it make a plant-based protein easier to digest?
This is probably one of the most common questions regarding plant-based proteins.
Tolerance to a protein powder depends on many factors: the raw materials used, the amount ingested, the other ingredients in the formula, the usual diet, and the individual characteristics of each person.
There are also major differences between products. Simply speaking of "plant-based protein" groups together formulations that can be very different from one another.
DigeZyme® is part of the Glorioso formulation, but we do not present the product as a treatment for bloating, gas, or other digestive symptoms.
If a person experiences digestive discomfort on a regular basis, especially if it is intense or persistent, finding the cause is much more important than trying to solve it solely by changing supplements.
Is DigeZyme® vegan?
This point is especially relevant to us because our proteins are formulated without animal-derived ingredients.
The enzymes used in supplements and foods can come from different sources. In the case of DigeZyme®, the enzymes are obtained through microbial fermentation processes.
Therefore, the presence of this enzyme complex is compatible with the plant-based approach of our proteins.
Furthermore, we should not confuse "digestive enzyme" with animal-derived enzyme: there are enzymes obtained through microbiological processes that allow for the formulation of products intended for vegan consumers.
Does it contain bromelain or papain?
No. DigeZyme® is not a mixture of bromelain from pineapple and papain from papaya.
Its composition is based on amylase, protease, lipase, lactase, and cellulase obtained through microbial fermentation.
This difference can be relevant for people who specifically want to know the origin of the enzymes present in a product.
Does DigeZyme® help gain muscle mass?
DigeZyme® should not be confused with protein or with ingredients specifically related to athletic performance.
The benefits regarding muscle mass correspond to the protein: proteins contribute to the growth and maintenance of muscle mass.
That is why, when we talk about the nutritional benefits of our Vegan Protein, we distinguish between the function of the protein and the presence of DigeZyme® as part of the formulation.
Do all vegan proteins contain enzymes?
No.
A plant-based protein can be formulated solely with one or more protein sources, or incorporate other ingredients depending on the product that each manufacturer wants to develop.
DigeZyme® is a specific ingredient and its presence must appear on the product's ingredient list.
At Glorioso, we have chosen to incorporate it into our plant-based protein formulas, but that does not mean it is a necessary component for a product to be considered a vegan protein.
DigeZyme® within the Glorioso formula
The philosophy behind our formulation is relatively simple: we prefer to explain what the product contains rather than build an endless list of benefits around each ingredient.
Our Vegan Proteins combine four sources of plant protein—pea, rice, pumpkin, and sunflower—along with DigeZyme®.
Protein is responsible for the recognized nutritional benefits associated with muscle mass. DigeZyme® provides the formulation with a complex composed of five different enzymes.
They are two distinct elements, and we believe explaining them this way is more useful than mixing them under ambiguous concepts like "better absorption" or "perfect digestion."
If you want to know about our different formulas, flavors, and compositions, you can consult our vegan protein range.
This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute personalized medical or nutritional advice. In the case of persistent digestive symptoms or concerns related to your health, consult a healthcare professional.