What is the digestive enzyme that breaksdown fiber?

Question

A friend of mine can't eat any food with fiber because it ends up hurting her really badly. I know there are enzymes to breakdown fats, proteins etc. If there is an enzyme for fiber can I get it by itself? Thanks so much!

Answer 1

no fiher isn't broken down

Answer 2

The other answers are correct, so another ingredient or condition must be causing the problem.

Answer 3

There is an enzyme to break down carbohydrates.  Maybe that is what you're talking about?  Breads, vegetables, etc.?

If it is...it's called amylase.

You can't break down fiber.  Fiber isn't absorbed by the body.  It simply passes through your digestive tract, and helps food waste move through your intestines.

If your friend is complaining about abdominal pain when eating gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats) she may have celiac disease.  This is a fairly serious disease that wears down the intestine, and can result in malabsorption, weight loss, hair loss, fatigue, acne, etc.  She should have a blood test by a health professional, and after, eliminate all gluten containing products.  Even if there is a little bit of gluten in something she eats, she can be harmed.

And currently, there are no supplements for celiac disease.  It's a condition that can not be reversed.

Answer 4

You mean when they eat gluten (like wheat, barley, etc)?

People with Celiac Disease get pain in their intestines when they eat certain fibers that have gluten in them... I've never heard of other diseases like that.

If that's the case, there is only one product I've heard of that helps to digest gluten, and that's called "BioCore DPP, Gluten Peptide Enzyme"... you should be able to find it online or in your local health food store.

If you mean they just get cramping, that's very common if they don't eat much fiber at all. If that's the case, the others are right that no enzymes will break down fiber in general... your friend just needs to slowly bring up their fiber intake. Don't start with a high dose, just start by adding some pasta or some crackers to their regular meal, then add a little more each day.

If your friend really isn't sure, I would have them call their doctor to ask if they can be tested for Celiac Disease. If their doctor can't test your friend, have them call around to find a doctor that can. Good luck to you both!

Answer 5

Does she have diverticulosis? The point of fiber is to not be broken down. It acts as the bulk of the f***s. If your friend is having a problem with high fiber foods she should eat whole foods that do not have that "added fiber", such as whole fruits and vegetables and seeds. Those are moderate in fiber. If she still have a problem, soluble fiber could work better. Fiber is vital for a functioning body, but soluble fiber expands and becomes jelly-like in water and it is usually a lot softer on the stomach plus is lowers your cholesterol (cheerios and oatmeal have soluble fiber). Beans are also very good for the gut because they provide food for the good intestinal bacteria, which in turn can help break down the fiber so it isn't just one solid mass.

Answer 6

The point of fibre is that it isn't digested: It simply helps stimulate peristalsis (The muscle movements that move food through the digestive system).

So no, there aren't any enzymes for breaking it down, and if there were, there wouldn't be any point to having fiber in your diet.