Lack of digestive enzymes and stomach acid?

[Zizzle]

I've been following research and books that claim that autoimmune diseases, leaky gut and GI problems all stem from a lack of certain digestive enzymes, namely pancreatic enzymes (DNASE 1 and others). This post about the "Beet test" suggests that low stomach acid is a precursor to enzyme problems downstream, and I'm buying it. I failed the Beet test -- my pee was pink for 2+ days!

http://heal-thyself.ning.com/forum/topics/the-beet-test (read the "reply to the discussion" too with info from the GAPS diet author)

I've been taking digestive enzyme and gluten enzyme (DPP-IV) pills with restaurant and heavy meals and notice some improvement if I take them religiously (Which I don't )

I have no trouble eating fermented vegetables, and I have restarted drinking water kefir, in the hopes of re-establishing stomach acid and enzyme production, and displacing bad microbes in the GI tract. I have Pickl-it jars being shipped to me so I can ensure my water kefir and vegetables are fermenting anaerobically (no oxygen). Apparently wild fermentation and aerobic fermentation can allow less friendly microbes to grow, which can mean trouble for people with GI issues. The gold standard is the lactic acid producing bacteria grown in anaerobic conditions.

My reactions to specific foods (other than gluten) seem relatively minor now. Might be the LDN, but I seem to suffer more from mild generalized indigestion, which is why I'm pursuing this route. I don't seem bothered by moderate amounts of histamine, tyramine, or other substances, but I still have muddy D 1-3 times/day.

I hope I'm on the right track!!

BTW, my daughter's amoeba treatment ended almost 2 weeks ago and her D is back. Her D patterns and consistency are almost identical to mine. Not sure if we share the same amoeba, or the same screwed up genes and microbiome. But she'll be following my protocol too (doctor's orders).

[wmonique2]

Z.

I wanted to tell you that 2 weeks ago I started taking digestive enzymes from vitacost before each meal and I no longer have any bloating or discomfort (which I occasionally had) post meals. It's been great! I take them with each meal now. Love it!

Monique

[Gabes-Apg]

The gold standard is the lactic acid producing bacteria grown in anaerobic conditions.

Ann W was just talking about lactic acid in the other thread started by megamoxie about pro-biotics

[AnnW]

If food is not completely digested, due to lack of digestive enzymes and/or HCL, or not absorbed because of damage to the villi (inflammation allergies etc.) then too much left over food can be fermented by bad bacteria in the small intestine or in the large intestine. Dysbiosis is too much of the "bad" bugs and not enough of the "good" bugs. Dysbiosis can be caused by antibiotics, inflammation, ileo-cecal valve problems, food allergies, parasites, and more. "Bad" bugs produce hydrogen gas, methane gas, and God knows what else, when they ferment undigested food. These gases further irritate the gut, producing more diarrhea or constipation or both. Acid reflux is also common in dysbiosis. Too much fiber or easily fermentable carbohydrates (FODMAPs) will be fermented to these irritants by bad bugs. This is why a low FODMAP diet, the SCD diet, or the GAPs diet is often helpful to MC/IBD patients( minus the patient's specific sensitivities of course).

Probiotics are lactic acid producing bacteria. They do not produce gases from left over food or fiber but instead they produce lactic acid. Lactic acid is required for a healthy GI tract. Probiotics will help displace the bad microbes with good ones thus reducing the amount of harmful gases etc. produced. I often suggest digestive enzymes with probiotics for my clients. I explained in another post why I refrain from using HCL, at least initially. Fermented vegetables are another great probiotic source. However some patients are not able to tolerated them.

Hope this helps!

Dr. Ann

[wmonique2]

Dr. Ann,

Very helpful! Thank you. I now understand the mechanism of it all...


Monique

[Zizzle]

The theory that most autoimmune disease is caused by an absence of 2 enzymes produced by the pancreas: Protease and DNASE-1 by the author of Autoimmune: the Cause and the Cure (which I have avoided buying, just read all her Facebook posts, etc) says she cured her Lupus though healthy diet and eating fermented sauerkraut with EVERY meal, as it replaces the enzymes you are not making. I'm 90% sure I have exocine pancreatic insufficiency, and I don't want to get hooked on digestive enzyme pills, so I've been eating sauerkraut and drinking water kefir. My kids are hooked on both now too. I hope this will usher in a new level of health for all of us!

Always Eat With a Fermented Food–ALWAYS

As with any protein you consume, always make sure to eat a fermented food, such as a couple of forkfuls of raw fermented sauerkraut, along with it.

Fermented foods contain enzymes just like the digestive enzymes in our own pancreas that help us to break down and metabolize the foods we are eating.

[Lesley]

I can't take HCI - gives me terrible heartburn.
What make of digestive enzymes does everybody recommend?

[Hopeful]

I deeply conflicted about fermented foods. I actually teach fermenting classes based on Weston Price but, when I'm flaring up, many probiotics seem to make things worse. Also, I believe fermented foods are listed among the mast producing/promoting foods.

What are your thoughts?

[Leah]

Interesting Zizzle. I use to take enzymes also when I ate a large meal and it did seem to help. As time went on and my gut healed, I didn't seem to need them. Now, I actually think I'm producing these enzymes on my own again! I am not even having problems with fructose or sorbitol any more! I hope you get everything balanced with your plan.
leah

[JFR]

I deeply conflicted about fermented foods. I actually teach fermenting classes based on Weston Price but, when I'm flaring up, many probiotics seem to make things worse. Also, I believe fermented foods are listed among the mast producing/promoting foods.

What are your thoughts?

Fermented foods are indeed high in histamine and if you are having problems with high histamine foods you need to avoid them, although it's not necessarily forever. I know that I can now eat a lot of high histamine food that I had to avoid initially. I make my own sauerkraut and beet kvass and have no problem with them, but I still avoid some things like canned fish. Histamine reactions are often dose dependent so you may be able to tolerate a small amount of fermented food but not in large quantities. So like with most things there is no single simple answer to your question. In other words fermented foods are fine as long as you can tolerate them. If you can't then avoid them. Same goes with probiotics. Some people here take them without any problem but many people have reported that they react badly to them.

Jean

[AnnW]

JFR is correct that fermented foods are high in histamine. This is just one reason so many IBD patients have a problem with them. Probiotics in pill form are often better tolerated. Always start slow and try to avoid too many easily fermentable carbohydrates especially while the gut is trying to heal.

Leah:
Taking digestive enzymes can allow for enough nutrition to reach the patient so they can start making their own.

Dr. Ann

[Lilja]

Probiotics are lactic acid producing bacteria. They do not produce gases from left over food or fiber but instead they produce lactic acid. Lactic acid is required for a healthy GI tract. Probiotics will help displace the bad microbes with good ones thus reducing the amount of harmful gases etc. produced. I often suggest digestive enzymes with probiotics for my clients. I explained in another post why I refrain from using HCL, at least initially. Fermented vegetables are another great probiotic source. However some patients are not able to tolerated them.

Hope this helps!

Dr. Ann

Hi Dr Ann,
Can people who are lactose intolerant use probiotics made from lactic acid?

Lilja

[AnnW]

Lilja:

Lactose is a disaccharide sugar made up of of two simplier sugars, glucose and galactose. The enzyme lactase, produced by the pancreas and the brush border of the small intestine, breaks down lactose into glucose and galactose which we can then absorb. As we get older we lose the ability to produce lactase (most mammals do) and become more lactose intolerant as we age. Most mammals do not consume their mother's milk or the milk from other mammals past weaning. Only humans continue to do so. 70-80% of humans have some degree of lactose intolerance, so it really is not a disease at all. It is just a normal consequence of aging. That said, if you are lactose intolerant, you cannot break the glucose-galactose bond so the lactose ends up undigested in the colon. Now the colon bacteria break down the lactose. However, they produce gases from the lactose as a by-product that irritates the colon. That can cause gas, bloating, and diarrhea and really hurt MC/IBD patients' already inflammed gut.

Lactic acid is not the same as lactose. Lactose is a sugar we ingest, while lactic acid is produced by the good bugs in our gut. This lactic acid helps maintain the normal pH of the intestinal tract and inhibits the growth of bad microbes. Probiotics are good bugs that will produce lactic acid in the intestines. So to answer your question, "YES" people with lactose intolerance can use probiotics.

Dr. Ann

[nerdhume]

Thanks for clearing that up Dr. Ann. I was really confused by the 'lactid acid'. I have noticed personally that the older I got the less dairy I could tolerate. Before MC dx I would occasionally have ice cream and suffer the gas consequences.

[mzh]

Z, the Auto-immune book is only $9.99 for the Kindle version on Amazon.