Digestive Enzymes for Bloating Relief

Research suggests that digestive enzymes may offer some relief for bloating, particularly in cases where the underlying cause is a specific food intolerance such as lactose malabsorption, with a 1997 clinical review noting enzyme supplementation as one practical management approach alongside dietary elimination strategies. Studies indicate, however, that the broader evidence base for digestive enzymes as a general bloating remedy remains limited and largely indirect — the available literature consists primarily of reviews, clinical guidelines, and trials focused on related conditions such as gastroparesis, IBS, GERD, and chemotherapy-induced mucositis, rather than controlled trials testing digestive enzyme supplements for bloating specifically. One review examining IBS symptoms raised the possibility that impaired enzyme function involving sucrase-isomaltase variants may contribute to digestive distress in certain individuals, lending some mechanistic plausibility to the idea that enzyme support could help a subset of people, though the authors themselves called for more research. Overall, the current body of evidence does not provide strong or direct support for broad use of digestive enzymes for bloating relief, and readers should be aware that most available studies address adjacent conditions or employ treatments unrelated to enzyme supplementation.