Enzyme Contents & Package Labeling

“Commercial enzymes” are one product you may come across. Commercial enzymes are of a lesser grade and purity than pharmaceutical enzymes. They are less expensive to produce. They are also much less potent.

Another thing to watch for on the label is fillers. Fillers can be many things including leftover fibers or cellulose. These are from the Food Chemical Codex (FCC). The FCC is published by the National Academy Press and is the accepted standard of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The system for determining enzyme potency used by the American food industry is derived from the FCC. This is the ONLY National Standard for evaluation of fungal enzymes. This system establishes activity levels and potency for enzymes.

With most foods we are accustomed to comparisons based on weight. With enzymes we are interested in the activity and potency available. There is no direct relationship between weight and units of activity. The enzyme activity of all Enzymedica products is measured and reported in FCC units. These, unit measurements are expressed as follows:
Alpha-Galactosidase - GAL (Galactosidase units)
Amylase - DU (Dextrinizing Units)
Cellulase - CU (Cellulase unit)
Gluxcoamylase - AGU (Amyloglucosidase Units)
Invertase - IAU (Invertase Activity unit)
Lactase - LacU (Lactase unit)
Lipase - FCCLU (Lipase unit)
Maltase - (DP Degrees of Diastatic Power)
Pectinase/Phytase - Endo-PG (Endolygagalacturonase Units)
Protease - HUT (Hemoglobin Unit Tyrosine base)

When comparing enzyme products make sure measurements are listed using FCC standard codes. Some manufacturers make up their own abbreviations. Others use weights such as milligrams (mgs). Still others will list measurements based on dosage which may be more than one capsule.