Demand for digestive health solutions is rising as consumer awareness of gut health increases. According to Straits Research, the global market size for digestive health supplements is anticipated to reach USD 21.41 billion by 2030 and expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.6%.

With 58.9% of market share (source: Nutritional Business Journal), the category is nowadays largely dominated by probiotics. However, according to New Hope Network NEXT Data & Insights and NBJ report, synbiotics (i.e., the combination of probiotics and prebiotics) are expected to represent 80% of the probiotic market by 2025.

As consumers are increasingly looking for more holistic ways to improve their health, demand for gut health solutions that provide something ‘extra’ will continue to expand. Within this context, adding digestive enzymes will be key to unlocking innovative products for better digestion and gut health. While probiotics introduce beneficial types of bacteria into the gut, digestive enzymes aid in breaking down complex nutrients, preventing undigested food from passing into the colon and causing gastrointestinal problems. In addition, combining prebiotic fibres is a great way to further support the growth of healthy bacteria by modulating the microbiota towards a more beneficial community.

The digestive system plays a pivotal role in converting food into essential nutrients necessary for effective bodily functions. This intricate process involves the production and utilisation of a variety of enzymes and substances that aid digestion, breaking down food into smaller, absorbable molecules. Certain conditions, including age, stress, lifestyle choices, and specific medications, can significantly diminish the body's ability to produce a sufficient amount of enzymes. To counteract these negative effects, Giellepi precisely formulated Poolzyme^® Multi – a powerful, multi-enzyme, vegetarian, broad spectrum preparation designed to break down large macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into smaller, more easily digested forms of these nutrients, helping them to be more easily absorbed as simpler sugars, peptides, amino acids, and fatty acids. As an added bonus, it may assist in the digestion of lactose, as well as high-fibre plant foods.

Several health issues plaguing modern consumers, including digestive discomfort like gas and bloating, can often be attributed to poor digestion. A recently published double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled study highlights the efficacy of Poolzyme^® Multi as a digestive aid in 120 subjects suffering from functional dyspepsia (also known as indigestion) – a group of symptoms such as upper belly pain, belching, bloating, and feeling full. A supplementation with 200 mg of Poolzyme^® Multi during main meals resulted in amelioration of the frequency, severity, and discomfort of typical gastrointestinal symptoms, as well as overall quality of life after just 30 days (vs baseline) and 60 days (vs placebo). On top of that, sleep quality – which is negatively affected in those with digestive disorders – was markedly improved by 30% in the group taking Poolzyme^® Multi, as assessed by the Pittsburgh sleep quality index. Importantly, during the study, any side effects or adverse reactions were reported, thus confirming the safety of the enzyme blend over the 2-month period of daily supplementation.

To further confirm the ability of Poolzyme^® Multi to digest challenging hypercaloric meals (e.g., hamburger, fries, soda, or pizza), a lab trial using the INFOGEST static in vitro simulation of gastrointestinal digestion has been successfully completed, with results under elaboration at the time the article was prepared.

In the increasingly competitive nutraceutical market, the ‘good, better, best’ approach – where probiotics alone are good, synbiotics are better, and synbiotics and enzymes together are best – may represent a valuable strategy for formulators who aim to develop innovative and consumer appealing digestive health supplements.