What Is Amylase Used in Premier Digest?

Introduction

Amylase is a digestive enzyme that helps break down starches and complex carbohydrates into smaller sugar units. It belongs to the carbohydrase family of enzymes and is naturally involved in the digestion of foods such as grains, potatoes, rice, legumes, and other starch-containing foods. In Premier Digest, amylase is included to support the carbohydrate-digestion side of a mixed meal.

The History of Amylase

Amylase has a long history in both digestion science and food processing. The study of starch-digesting enzymes helped shape the early understanding of enzymes themselves. Enzymes that convert starches into sugars were observed in malted grains long before modern biochemistry could fully explain the process.

Historically, amylase activity was especially important in brewing, breadmaking, and food production because starch conversion affects sweetness, fermentation, and texture. In human digestion, amylase became recognized as one of the key enzymes involved in the early handling of starch-rich foods.

Where Does Amylase Come From?

Amylase occurs naturally in many living systems. In the human body, amylase is produced in saliva and by the pancreas. Plants, grains, and microorganisms can also produce amylase activity.

In supplement and food applications, amylase enzymes are commonly produced through controlled fermentation using selected microbial sources. This allows manufacturers to create standardized enzyme preparations with measured activity.

How Is Amylase Manufactured?

Supplement-grade amylase is typically produced through fermentation. A selected organism is grown under controlled conditions, the enzyme is produced during that process, and then the enzyme material is separated, purified, dried or stabilized, and tested for activity.

The purpose of manufacturing control is to ensure that the enzyme preparation has consistent activity, purity, and quality from batch to batch. With enzymes, this is especially important because the value of the ingredient depends on activity, not simply weight.

What Does Amylase Do?

Amylase supports the breakdown of starches. Starch is a large carbohydrate structure made of glucose units. Before the body can use carbohydrate energy from starch-containing foods, those larger structures must be broken down into smaller forms.

This is why amylase is commonly included in digestive enzyme formulas. It addresses a food category that appears in many everyday meals, including rice, potatoes, bread, grains, pasta, and root vegetables.

Common Uses of Amylase

• Digestive enzyme supplements: Used to support starch and carbohydrate digestion.
• Food processing: Used in starch conversion, baking, brewing, and sweetener production.
• Research: Studied as a major enzyme involved in carbohydrate digestion and starch hydrolysis.

Why Is Amylase Included in Digestive Supplements?

Amylase is included in digestive supplements because many meals contain starch. A digestive enzyme formula that supports only protein or fat digestion would miss an important part of the average diet.

When amylase is paired with other enzymes such as protease, lipase, lactase, invertase, and cellulase, it helps create a more complete formula for mixed meals.

Why Premier Digest Contains Amylase

Premier Digest contains 5,300 DU of amylase enzyme activity as part of its Premier Enzyme Blend. This enzyme supports the digestion of starches and complex carbohydrates in cooked and mixed meals.

Its role is especially important because Premier Digest is not designed as a single-purpose enzyme product. Amylase helps the formula address carbohydrate digestion alongside protein, fat, dairy sugar, sucrose, and plant fiber support.

Interesting Facts About Amylase

• Amylase activity is involved in the digestion of starch-rich foods.
• The “DU” listed on enzyme labels refers to enzyme activity, not milligrams.
• Amylase is used in both nutrition and food production.
• Starch digestion begins before food reaches the small intestine, but enzyme support remains important throughout the digestive sequence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is amylase the same as a carbohydrate enzyme?

Amylase is one type of carbohydrate-digesting enzyme. It is especially associated with the breakdown of starches.

Does Premier Digest contain amylase?

Yes. Premier Digest includes 5,300 DU of amylase enzyme activity.

What foods does amylase help break down?

Amylase supports the digestion of starch-containing foods such as grains, rice, potatoes, and other complex carbohydrate foods.

Why does amylase use DU instead of milligrams?

DU is an enzyme activity unit. Enzymes are measured by the work they perform, not only by weight.

Conclusion

Amylase is an important digestive enzyme for starch and carbohydrate breakdown. In Premier Digest, it helps make the formula more complete by supporting the carbohydrate portion of mixed meals. It works alongside other enzymes in the formula so that Premier Digest can support a broader range of digestive needs with cooked and mixed foods.