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Digestive Enzyme which one to take with Crohns

Sun, July 15, 2018 2:01 PM

Hi all! I have had a foot of my intestine resected small intestine back in 2011. I now have suspected bile acid diarrhea but have done a lot of non standard tests that are saying I need a ton of digestive enzymes. I suspect leaky gut, SIBO, Candida etc. I am trying to find a good digestive enzyme that works for people like me.

I have two I am currently looking at. One is called Vital Zymes by Klaire Labs that doesn't have any fruit enzymes, or porcine, and lower amounts of protease because apparently high amounts can irritate the digestive tract which I don't need. Since I have a lot of food sensitiviites I am thinking of trying this one but it does seem that it has much lower dosages then the other one I am thinking of taking. I end up even having to take lower vitamin dosages too because I am so super sensitive, so thinking of starting out with the Vital Zymes but I also am sure I have low stomach acid low Gastrin on blood test I tested myself. I have GERD and acid reflux and believe it's mostly due to low stomach acid.

On Amazon Vital Zymes has 4.5 stars and the other one I am looking at only has 3.5. The other one is called Assisst SI by Body Ecology and supposedly is high potency and assists digestiion in small intestine which I need. At one point I did a food sensitivity test and pineapple came back high as inflammtory for me but I know bromelein is important enzyme. So not sure which to try? The Assist SI one Protease is 80,000 USP and the Vital Zyme one has three, acid protease 50 sapu, alkaline protease 50 pc, and protease/peptidase complex with dpp-iv activity at 40,000 hut amongst other things.

Have any of you tried either of these enzymes with great success? Or know of one that is great. The amazon reviews were showing people with UC loving Vital Zymes but they were talking more about constipation. I get that when dehydrated but I have more the opposite I can't stop with diarrhea.

Some doctors also want me to start Chorestyramine to try and bind my bile acids since they aren't reabsorbing. I also have suspected Adrenal issues now and think I am hypothyroid so I wasn't sure if the Ch would pull out my cholesterol but a cardiologist on Friday said it doesn't take down total cholesterol levels just something else I forget. So I think that could be good but I need to be able to break down my food better as a lot of it comes out in my stool.

Thanks for your help!

financegal50
Joined Jul 15, 2018

Fri, July 27, 2018 8:59 PM

Reply posted for financegal50.

Hi financegal50,
I have been using the Body Ecology Assist SI now for about a year, and find them to be helpful to me, probably more so than other enzymes I have tried. I was diagnosed with Crohns back in 2014, and seemed able to control it with food enzymes, diet, and probiotics. However, just recently it has become active and severe with partial bowel blockage, and I am now on 30mg prednisone a day. I have backed off a bit on the probiotics but still take two of the Assist SI - one with each of my main meals each day. I like some of Body Ecology's products, and also use their fermented protien powders each morning in my smoothies. Hoping to avoid surgery, but the GI doc wants me to start Remicade infusions soon, and also visit the surgeon now- just in case. Best wishes!

theresaberthels
Joined Jan 16, 2016

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