Pepsin

See also : Digestive Enzymes
Pepsin is an enzyme produced by the stomach. Along with a few other enzymes during digestion, it begins to break down protein in the stomach. Protein is found in our diet mainly in the form of meats, eggs and dairy. Pepsin is needed in normal amounts so the protein can properly be broken down into peptides and amino acids. This is necessary so protein can be absorbed further along the digestive tract in the small intestine.

Special Precautions of Pepsin

Always talk to your doctor before beginning any type of pepsin or HCl supplement regimen. These supplements may or may not have been evaluated by the Federal Drug Administration and only your doctor can determine if these would actually be any benefit to you.

Benefits and uses of Pepsin are

When food enters the stomach after being swallowed, pepsin is the first enzyme to aid in the breakdown of protein. Two other enzymes, chymotrypsin and trypsin, also work on proteins but are found further along the digestive tract. Pepsin works by breaking the links in certain amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. The beginning of breakdown of proteins in the stomach is essential for the amino acids to be small enough for absorption. Pepsin supplements may or may not have HCl also in the capsule. These supplements claim that increased HCl and pepsin will help digest protein and aid in the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals.