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Do Casa de Sante FODMAP Digestive Enzymes work? Eighteen enzymes with units, and no enzyme for fructans

Quick answer

Do Casa de Sante FODMAP Digestive Enzymes work? No trial of this capsule was found. Its eighteen enzymes each print a unit, including alpha-galactosidase at 50 GalU and lactase at 500 ALU, but there is no fructan enzyme, and the brand itself says its enzymes do not break down fructans. The alpha-galactosidase amount is below the 300 to 1,200 GalU used in trials, and two IBS trials of that enzyme were null. Amazon shows 4.1 from 258 ratings, and a capsule costs $0.43 on Amazon against about $1.27 a dose for FODZYME.

Five rows comparing Casa de Sante and FODZYME: fructan enzyme no against yes; alpha-galactosidase 50 GalU against not printed; lactase 500 ALU against not printed; capsule against powder; price per dose $0.43 against about $1.27.
Source: Casa de Sante Supplement Facts and brand pages; FODZYME Amazon listing; Amazon prices at one-time purchase. Chart by SuppleGut, free to reuse with a link to this page.

Casa de Sante FODMAP Digestive Enzymes is a vegetable capsule of eighteen enzymes, taken at the first bite of a meal and sold for gas, bloating and fullness on a low FODMAP diet. Every enzyme on its label has a printed activity unit and there is no proprietary blend, but the panel has no enzyme for fructans, the FODMAP group in wheat, garlic and onion. This page covers the label, the evidence, FODZYME, price and reviews.

What the capsule is, and what it is not

One capsule is the serving, and a bottle holds 60. The other ingredients are maltodextrin, medium chain triglycerides and the capsule (hypromellose and water). There are no probiotics or herbs. The panel lists eighteen enzymes, each with its own unit:

Enzyme as printedPer capsule
Protease 1; Protease 220,000 HUT; 4,000 HUT
Aspergillopepsin100 SAPU
Amylase; Glucoamylase5,000 DU; 50 AGU
Lipase1,250 FIP
Cellulase; Hemicellulase500 CU; 1,000 HCU
Invertase200 SU
Alpha Galactosidase50 GalU
Beta Glucanase; Pectinase65 BGU; 16.9 endo-PGU
Xylanase; Phytase250 XU; 10 FTU
Lactase500 ALU
Bromelain; Papain900,000 PU; 100,000 PU
Peptidase160 DPPIV

The label does not define “PU”, and enzyme units are laboratory measures: suppliers do not always use the same assay behind the same abbreviation. The brand’s own blog pages list bromelain and papain at 500,000 PU each, where the bottle prints 900,000 and 100,000. Either the formula changed or the blog is out of date, and the bottle is the later source.

Which FODMAPs the enzymes address

Two panel lines match a FODMAP group: alpha-galactosidase at 50 GalU for galacto-oligosaccharides (the sugars in beans and lentils) and lactase at 500 ALU for lactose. There is no fructanase or inulinase, so nothing on the label targets fructans, and no enzyme for polyols such as sorbitol and mannitol. The brand says this itself: its product page states that enzymes “do not remove fructans from wheat, garlic, or onion,” and its comparison page says this capsule lists alpha-galactosidase and lactase but not a fructan-targeting enzyme. Several Amazon reviewers nonetheless report eating small amounts of garlic or onion on it. No enzyme on the panel explains that, so those are reviewer reports, not a finding.

The bottle carries a “Low FODMAP” badge, and the brand page says the finished product is FODMAP Friendly certified. Those are the brand’s claims. A certification of this kind says the capsule itself is low in FODMAPs per serving; it does not say the enzymes lower the FODMAPs in a meal.

The evidence

We found no trial of this capsule: a search of PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov for the brand returned nothing, and the brand cites no study of the formula. The evidence sits with two of its enzymes and with blends in general.

Alpha-galactosidase. In 8 healthy volunteers eating a bean meal, 1,200 GalU lowered breath hydrogen and flatulence and 300 GalU lowered the symptom score. Two trials in people with irritable bowel syndrome were null: 125 patients over 12 weeks showed no routine benefit, and 20 patients given 1,200 GalU per meal did no better than on placebo. One capsule here supplies 50 GalU, a sixth of the lowest trial dose that helped; two capsules supply 100. Against the ElevenZyme (150 GalU), Let Loose (300), Digest Gold (450) and HoloZyme (650) labels, it prints the lowest alpha-galactosidase amount; the ElevenZyme guide sets out that comparison. No trial is pinned to the 500 ALU of lactase.

Multi-enzyme blends. A 120-adult trial of a fungal multi-enzyme blend at 400 mg a day found better dyspepsia scores than placebo over two months, and a 40-patient trial of another blend favored the enzymes, with authors tied to its maker. Both were in functional dyspepsia, not FODMAP intolerance, and this label gives no blend weight, so no dose comparison is possible. The only registered trial of a FODMAP-targeting enzyme product that we found is of FODZYME, and it does not test this formula. The digestive enzymes guide covers where single enzymes have trial support.

Casa de Sante against FODZYME

FODZYME is the product people most often compare it with, and the two differ in construction:

The brand’s own comparison page names FODZYME as the option when fructans are the main trigger. For the single-enzyme route, Beano is alpha-galactosidase alone at 300 GalU a tablet.

How to take it

The bottle says one capsule at the beginning of each meal or as directed by a healthcare professional, and not to exceed six capsules a day. The brand page says one or two capsules at the first bite of a meal that usually causes discomfort. No trial tests either, so a fair test is a few weeks at one meal type, noting symptoms after the meals that used to cause trouble.

The brand also markets the capsule to people taking GLP-1 medication and says enzymes do not change how the medication works. We found no trial of enzymes in GLP-1 users.

Side effects and who should check first

The bottle says pregnant or nursing mothers, children under 18 and anyone with a known medical condition should consult a physician. The brand’s page also names blood thinners, diabetes medication, pancreatitis, active pancreatic disease and a history of gastrointestinal surgery as reasons to check with a clinician. Bromelain and papain are on the panel.

The panel reads “Contains Milk, Soy, and Wheat,” from the fermentation used to make the enzymes, and the bottle adds a shared-facility statement covering egg, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish. We found no gluten-free claim. The Amazon listing calls the capsules vegan, which sits alongside the milk statement on the panel.

What the reviews say

Reviewers praise eating beans, Brussels sprouts, onion and garlic again, getting through restaurant meals, and less gas and gurgling at a lower price than the powder. The recurring complaints are no effect, stomach pain (one one-star reviewer reports “excruciating abdominal pains” within hours), the wheat statement, and a value split: Amazon’s review summary says some find it good value and others do not.

Price, subscriptions and returns

A 60-capsule bottle is $25.99 on Amazon, or $0.43 a capsule, and $23.39 with Subscribe & Save ($0.39). On the brand site it is $29.99, or $0.50 a capsule; the brand site offers subscriptions through an app, and we did not read the discount. At one capsule with each of three meals, that is about $1.30 a day on Amazon and $1.50 on the brand site. At the six-capsule limit it is $2.60 and $3.00.

The brand’s refund policy runs 30 days, with the buyer paying return shipping and original shipping costs not refunded. We found no billing complaints in the Amazon text we read.

Who it is for

The products in this catalog

enzyme Casa de Sante FODMAP Digestive Enzymes An 18-enzyme capsule taken at the first bite of a meal, marketed for low FODMAP eating. Buy it at Amazon$0.43 a day
enzyme FODZYME FODMAP Enzyme Blend (Home Kit) A tasteless enzyme powder sprinkled onto food to break down FODMAPs before they ferment. Buy it at Amazon$1.27 a day
enzyme Beano Digestive Enzyme Tablets An alpha-galactosidase tablet taken with beans, lentils and cruciferous vegetables so the sugars in them are split before they ferment. Buy it at Amazon$0.24 a day
enzyme Nutreance ElevenZyme Digestive Enzyme Formula An 11-enzyme capsule in a 110 mg blend, taken before the largest meal of the day. Buy it at Amazon$1.33 a day

Common questions

Do Casa de Sante FODMAP Digestive Enzymes work?

No trial of this formula was found. Amazon shows 4.1 from 258 ratings, with 61% five-star and 9% one-star, and reviewers describe eating beans, onion and garlic with fewer symptoms. The label has alpha-galactosidase at 50 GalU and lactase at 500 ALU but no fructan enzyme, and the brand says its enzymes do not remove fructans from wheat, garlic or onion.

What enzymes are in it, and is there a fructan enzyme?

Eighteen: two proteases (20,000 and 4,000 HUT), aspergillopepsin 100 SAPU, amylase 5,000 DU, lipase 1,250 FIP, cellulase 500 CU, glucoamylase 50 AGU, invertase 200 SU, alpha-galactosidase 50 GalU, beta glucanase 65 BGU, pectinase 16.9 endo-PGU, xylanase 250 XU, phytase 10 FTU, hemicellulase 1,000 HCU, lactase 500 ALU, bromelain 900,000 PU, papain 100,000 PU and peptidase 160 DPPIV. There is no fructanase or inulinase.

Casa de Sante vs FODZYME: which covers more FODMAPs?

FODZYME lists a fructan hydrolase, lactase and alpha-galactosidase in a powder sprinkled on food, so it addresses fructans, GOS and lactose; Casa de Sante’s capsule has alpha-galactosidase and lactase but no fructan enzyme. Casa de Sante prints eighteen units and costs $0.43 a dose on Amazon against about $1.27; FODZYME prints no individual amounts and has a registered trial with no results posted. See the FODZYME page.

Is it really low FODMAP, and what does the certification mean?

The bottle has a “Low FODMAP” badge, and the brand says the finished product is FODMAP Friendly certified. Those are the brand’s claims. A certification of that kind means the capsule is low in FODMAPs per serving, not that it lowers the FODMAPs in a meal.

How much does it cost per dose and per day?

A 60-capsule bottle is $25.99 on Amazon ($0.43 a capsule) and $29.99 on the brand site ($0.50). The bottle says one capsule at the beginning of each meal, up to six a day, so one capsule at each of three meals is about $1.30 a day on Amazon and $1.50 on the brand site.

Is it gluten-free, and who should check with a doctor first?

The panel says “Contains Milk, Soy, and Wheat” from the fermentation process, and no gluten-free claim was found. The bottle says pregnant or nursing mothers, children under 18 and people with a known medical condition should consult a physician, and the brand’s site names blood thinners and diabetes medication.

Why do the bromelain and papain amounts differ from the brand’s blog?

The bottle prints bromelain at 900,000 PU and papain at 100,000 PU, while the brand’s blog pages list 500,000 PU of each. Either the formula changed or the blog is out of date, and the bottle is the later source. The label does not define PU.

Sources

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