DigestWell: HUT, GDU, TU, FIP, LACU, GALU — What Those Enzyme Units Mean

DigestWell Digestive Enzyme Pro Blend — $28.90, 60 capsules. Its Supplement Facts panel is the most confusing-looking one in our catalogue, and that is actually a good sign. Here is how to read it.

Why enzymes are not measured in milligrams

For most supplements, milligrams tell you what you need. For enzymes they tell you almost nothing.

An enzyme's value is how much work it does, not how much it weighs. Two products could both contain 100 mg of protease and have completely different potency, because the enzymes could be more or less active. So enzyme labels report activity units instead — measured by how much substrate the enzyme breaks down under defined conditions.

The catch: each enzyme type has its own unit system, and they do not convert to one another. You cannot add them up or compare across them. A label that shows you activity units is being more informative than one that just shows milligrams — it is just harder to read.

The DigestWell panel, decoded

Per capsule, 60 servings per container:

Ingredient	Amount	What the unit measures
Makzyme-Pro™ enzyme blend	400 mg / 2,500 HUT	HUT — Hemoglobin Unit on a Tyrosine basis. Protein-digesting (protease) activity.
Bromelain	90 GDU	GDU — Gelatin Digesting Units. Protease activity from pineapple.
Papain	2,670 TU	TU — Tyrosine Units. Protease activity from papaya.
Fungal lipase	1,500 FIP	FIP — a fat-digesting (lipase) activity unit.
Fungal lactase	600 LACU	LACU — Lactase Units. Breaks down lactose, the sugar in dairy.
Alpha-galactosidase	300 GALU	GALU — Galactosidase Units. Acts on the carbohydrates in beans and cruciferous vegetables.

Other ingredients: hypromellose vegetable capsule, vegetable magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide.

What each enzyme is actually for

• Proteases (the Makzyme-Pro blend, bromelain, papain) — protein. Three different protease sources, which work at different pH levels, so they cover more of the digestive tract between them.
• Lipase — fat.
• Lactase — the lactose in dairy. This is the one people specifically look for.
• Alpha-galactosidase — the oligosaccharides in beans, lentils, broccoli and cabbage. It is the enzyme in the well-known bean products.

So the formula is built to cover protein, fat, dairy sugar and the fermentable carbohydrates in legumes and brassicas.

The blend contains probiotic organisms too

Worth noticing: the Makzyme-Pro™ blend is listed as containing fungal protease from Aspergillus oryzae plus Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. casei and L. plantarum. The label does not state a CFU count for those, so do not treat this as a probiotic. If you want a probiotic, buy one that states its CFU.

Timing is the thing people get wrong

One capsule twice daily, 20–30 minutes before a meal, or as directed by a healthcare professional.

Before, not after. Enzymes are there to be present when the food arrives. Taking one after you already feel uncomfortable is closing the gate late — if you know a meal is going to be heavy, dairy-containing or bean-heavy, that is when the capsule is useful.

What it does not do

It supports healthy digestion and nutrient absorption.* It does not treat a digestive disorder, lactose intolerance as a condition, IBS, reflux, or anything else diagnosed. If you have persistent digestive symptoms, that is worth investigating properly with a doctor rather than managing with enzymes.

Do not exceed the recommended dose. Consult a physician before use if pregnant, nursing, under 18, or if you have a medical condition. Bromelain and papain are worth specifically mentioning to your doctor if you take blood thinners.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All amounts quoted are taken from the approved NutraWell label.