Most people never think about digestive enzymes. They eat, they drink their protein shake, and they assume everything gets absorbed as intended. But the process of breaking down nutrients – protein included – is more involved than it looks, and digestive enzymes are central to it.
Some protein shakes now include digestive enzymes as part of their formula. At Protein Works, we include them in Whey Protein 360 GOLD and Whey Protein 360 PLATINUM. Here’s what they are, what they do, and why we think they belong in a well-formulated protein shake.
What are digestive enzymes?
Digestive enzymes are proteins produced naturally by the body – primarily in the pancreas, small intestine and salivary glands – that break down food into smaller components the body can absorb and use.
Different enzymes target different macronutrients:
- Proteases break down protein into amino acids
- Amylases break down carbohydrates into simple sugars
- Lipases break down fats into fatty acids and glycerol
- Cellulases break down plant cellulose
- Lactases break down lactose (the sugar found in dairy)
Without adequate enzyme activity, food passes through the digestive system less efficiently – meaning some of what you consume may not be fully absorbed.
Why does enzyme activity matter specifically for protein?
Protein is the most structurally complex macronutrient to digest. The body has to break long protein chains down into individual amino acids and peptides before they can be absorbed through the intestinal wall and put to use.
How efficiently that process happens varies between individuals. Factors including age, stress, gut health, and overall digestive function all affect enzyme output. When enzyme activity is lower than optimal, protein digestion can be less complete – even if you’re consuming a high-quality protein source.
Including digestive enzymes in a protein shake addresses this at the point of consumption. Rather than relying entirely on endogenous enzyme production, the formula provides enzymatic support as part of the shake itself.
Q: Do digestive enzymes in a protein shake help with absorption?
A: Digestive enzymes support the breakdown of macronutrients including protein, which is a necessary step before nutrients can be absorbed. Whey Protein 360 GOLD and PLATINUM both include a multi-enzyme complex for this purpose.
How do we include digestive enzymes at Protein Works?
The specific enzyme complex we use is called DigeZyme®. It’s a patented, multi-enzyme complex that targets multiple macronutrients – not just protein – in a single ingredient.
Rather than adding a single enzyme, DigeZyme® provides a broader spectrum of enzymatic support across protein, carbohydrates and fats. This is particularly relevant in a formula designed to support daily nutritional intake across multiple nutrients, which is exactly what Whey Protein 360 GOLD and PLATINUM are built to do.
DigeZyme® is a recognised ingredient in premium nutrition formulation. We chose it specifically because of its multi-enzyme profile and its track record in the ingredient space.
Q: Which Protein Works products include digestive enzymes?
A: Whey Protein 360 GOLD Innovation and Whey Protein 360 PLATINUM Innovation both include DigeZyme®, our chosen multi-enzyme complex. It is not included in Whey Protein 360 BLACK Innovation.
Are digestive enzymes the same as probiotics?
No – and this is worth clarifying because the two are often grouped together in gut health conversations.
Digestive enzymes are proteins that chemically break down food into absorbable components. They act immediately at the point of digestion. Probiotics are live microorganisms – bacteria – that support the composition and health of the gut microbiome over time.
They serve different purposes and work differently. Whey Protein 360 PLATINUM is the only tier in our range that includes both – DigeZyme® for macronutrient breakdown and absorption support, and 10.5 million CFU probiotics to support a healthy gut microbiome.
Why the Whey Protein 360 range includes digestive enzymes
The 360 concept behind the Whey Protein 360 range is about formulating holistically – not just maximising protein content, but considering how the full nutritional package works. That includes how effectively it’s processed.
Digestive enzymes are part of that thinking. A protein shake that includes enzymatic support addresses not only what goes in, but how completely the body can use it. That’s why DigeZyme® is included in GOLD and PLATINUM – and absent from BLACK, which is built as a premium, straightforward protein source rather than a nutritionally complete formula.
