Digestive issues are a common complaint during pregnancy. There are many over-the-counter (OTC) supplements that claim to help relieve this discomfort, like digestive enzymes, for instance. But are digestive enzymes safe to take while pregnant, and do they really work?
During pregnancy, the hormone progesterone slows down the digestive process in the stomach, small and large intestines, and the gallbladder. These changes can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, constipation, and heartburn, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center.
OTC supplements like digestive enzymes for pregnancy claim to quell these unpleasant symptoms. But the U.S. Food & Drug Administration doesn't require these products to be proven safe or effective before they're sold, so there's no guarantee that any supplement you take is safe, contains the ingredients it says it does, or produces the effects it claims.
Papaya Enzymes
Papain — a type of enzyme that comes from papaya — is sometimes touted for its supposed ability to improve digestion, according to research, which is why you may have considered taking papaya enzymes for pregnancy nausea or heartburn.
There's some evidence to back up these claims. For instance, papain has a long history as a traditional medicine for digestive and gastrointestinal diseases, according to research. Papain has also been shown to help digest protein. But more research is needed, the study authors write, to understand how papaya products work and what potential side effects they might have.
There's little evidence to show that papain or any other digestive enzyme can help with heartburn, however, according to Harvard Health Publishing.
It's also unclear if papaya fruit is safe while you're pregnant. Unripe and semi-ripe papaya has a high concentration of a latex substance that can cause uterine contractions, so it's best to avoid eating the unripe fruit.
Ripe papaya is thought to be safer — ultimately, though, the jury is still out on whether papaya is a good idea to eat when you’re pregnant.
While raw papaya fruit differs from a supplement, papain does come from the fruit's latex. As a result, your best bet to stay safe is to talk to your doctor before trying a papaya enzyme during pregnancy.
Bromelain
Bromelain is an enzyme that comes from pineapple plants, and it’s another common supplement thought to support digestion.
Bromelain is believed to help with tissue repair and is thought to have anti-inflammatory properties that may help with osteoarthritis pain. However, there's not enough evidence to be certain that bromelain can ease digestive issues, according to Cleveland Clinic.
What's more, little is known about whether this enzyme is safe to use while you're pregnant or breastfeeding, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
Lactase
If you're pregnant and have lactose intolerance, you may benefit from a lactase enzyme supplement, according to Healthy Parents, Healthy Children, an information service affiliated with the Alberta, Canada public healthcare system.
Lactose intolerance is a condition usually caused by your body not producing enough of the enzyme lactase. This renders you unable to fully digest the sugar (lactose) in milk products, according to Mayo Clinic. It can cause symptoms like:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea (and sometimes vomiting)
- Stomach cramps
- Bloating
- Gas
Taking lactase supplements such as Lactaid can help your body better digest milk and relieve lactose intolerance symptoms. Enzyme supplements aren’t effective for everyone, however, according to Mayo Clinic.
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your doctor before trying a lactase supplement to make sure it's right for you, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Alpha-Galactosidase
If you experience digestive symptoms like gas after eating foods with galacto-oligosaccharides, a type of carbohydrate that can’t be digested by the body, you may benefit from taking alpha-galactosidase enzymes, according to the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation. Galacto-oligosaccharides are found in foods such as cashews, pistachios, green peas, beans, and soy (among others), according to Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.
This enzyme, which your body may not produce in adequate amounts, helps your body digest the galacto-oligosaccharides, and products containing alpha-galactosidase (like Beano) can help prevent digestive distress. They may cause allergic reactions in people with mold allergies or alpha-gal syndrome, however, according to Harvard Health Publishing.
It's likely these digestive enzymes are safe to take while pregnant, but talk to your doctor before trying them to make sure it's okay for you.
Lipase
Lipase enzymes in your body break down fat and are also available in supplement form.
Some prescription supplements contain lipase, like pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy. You may require this prescription if you've been diagnosed with a condition like pancreatic enzyme insufficiency or pancreatitis and need certain enzymes medically replaced, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
If this is the case for you, talk to your doctor about whether it's best to continue with pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy during your pregnancy.
Other lipase supplements are OTC and intended to ease digestive issues like reflux, gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Some of these supplements — particularly ones that also contain lactase or alpha-galactosidase — may help relieve symptoms that crop up after eating troublesome foods like milk or beans. But unless you have an underlying digestive concern like lactose intolerance, you likely don’t need digestive enzymes.
There isn’t much research on using lipase as a stand-alone OTC supplement during pregnancy, so its safety and efficacy in that form haven’t been confirmed. Talk to your doctor about whether OTC lipase enzyme supplements are a good idea while you’re pregnant.
