Systemic enzymes are enzyme supplements that exert their function on cells, tissues and organs throughout your body, not just on your digestion like digestive enzymes. If you’ve been browsing the Internet and reading about systemic enzymes, you may have noticed that the letters IU, SU, SPU, FU or other abbreviations follow the systemic enzyme name. This can sometimes create confusion, especially when more than one measurement is used by manufacturers for the same enzyme! This is the case for serrapeptase so lets use this as an example to explain how to compare different systemic enzyme supplements.
The potency of the enzyme is the number one factor to consider in order to understand how well it will work. The potency is the measure of the enzyme's activity, not the weight of the enzyme. It is illustrated by the amount of an enzyme needed to degrade a substrate (i.e. protein) in a certain time frame. Systemic enzymes with a high potency require a smaller amount of the enzyme to produce an effect.
To better explain potency, let’s use the systemic enzyme serrapeptase (also known as serratiopeptidase and serrapeptidase) as an example. When you read the name of this systemic enzyme on labels, you may come across SU, SPU or IU listed after its name.
Both SU and SPU stand for serrapeptase units while IU stands for international units. They tell you how many active units of the systemic enzyme is present in each serving. A specific test is used to determine the enzyme's unit measurement and therefore the enzyme's potency.
Several systemic enzyme manufacturers use IU to show the enzyme activity. This is not the same as the IU used for measuring vitamins (which uses a completely different test). When it comes to serrapeptase the IU measurement is roughly equivalent to the SPU measurement. Though we recommend looking for supplements using the SPU or SU measurements to show enzymatic activity as SPU was designed and formulated specifically for the enzyme serrapeptase.
The higher the SPU, the more potent the enzyme. This also applies to the other enzymes with their own specific units of activity such as FU used for Nattokinase which stands for fibrinolytic units.
To confuse things further, some manufacturers use only a milligram weight measurement on the label of their systemic enzyme products. This really doesn't tell you anything other than how much the enzyme weighs.
Like we mentioned earlier, its the activity of the enzyme which determines its potency not its weight. An enzyme can weigh a lot, but have very low enzymatic activity. If a systemic enzyme supplement doesn’t show the units of activity (e.g. SPU) ask the manufacturer or look for a different brand of systemic enzyme which does.
Enteric coated or not? This is a tricky one because there are two opposing views. The enteric coating was formulated to protect the systemic enzyme you’re taking from being degraded by the highly acidic pH of your stomach. Advocates of enteric coated systemic enzymes claim that the enzymes should survive the acidic environment of the stomach, before they can be absorbed by the intestine. On the other hand, those against enteric coated enzymes argue that systemic enzymes are plant based and operate in a much wider pH (more stable) compared to animal based enzymes. Systemic enzymes are also taken on an empty stomach which lessens exposure to stomach acid which is secreted to help digest food. In addition, some people taking these supplements may have digestive problems, so you’ll wonder if the enteric coatings are degraded when the time comes for the enzyme to be absorbed.
What about the dosage? Different doses of systemic enzymes are prescribed for different medical conditions. The dosage will also vary according to the severity of the medical condition and whether it’s acute or chronic. While getting the strongest systemic enzyme product available seems like the logical approach, the strength you’ll need depends greatly on what you’re taking the enzymes for. For example, you may be better off buying serrepeptase with 120,000 SPU per capsule rather than the stronger 250,000 SPU version. The former gives you more dosing options, especially if you only need a low dose. While the latter allows you to take a higher dose with fewer capsules for more severe conditions. Speak with a naturopath or other health practitioner to help you determine the best dosage for you.
Note: Consult your healthcare practitioner before taking systemic enzymes if:
You are taking blood thinning medications, have a bleeding disorder, are due to undergo surgery or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. The reason behind this is that systemic enzymes cleanse your system and may thin your blood.
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