What Is Pepsin?

Overview

Pepsin is an enzyme – a type of protein that helps carry out a chemical reaction. More specifically, pepsin is a protease (also sometimes called a peptidase): an enzyme that helps break proteins down into smaller pieces [R, R].

Pepsin is one of the three major protein-digesting enzymes in the digestive system – the other two are chymotrypsin and trypsin. Pepsin is the first to start digesting proteins from the food you eat. The other two take over after pepsin has done the initial work [R+].

That’s why pepsin is often described as one of the most important digestive enzymes.

Snapshot

Proponents

• Aids protein digestion
• Claimed to correct low stomach acid
• May soothe chronic stomach inflammation (gastritis)
• Being researched in autism in combination with other enzymes
• Can act as a marker of acid reflux

Skeptics

• Solid evidence is lacking to support the use of supplements
• Long-term safety of supplementation is unknown
• Often used in combination with other enzymes

What Does it Break Down?

Broadly speaking, pepsin breaks down proteins [R].

Proteins are made up of lengthy chains of amino acid building blocks. Pepsin is able to sever the connections between amino acids, thus breaking long protein chains into shorter chains called peptides [R, R+].

Specifically, pepsin is an aspartic peptidase, which means that it has the amino acid aspartate in its active site. Aspartate enables pepsin to work and cut up proteins [R+, R+, R+].

Aspartic peptidases like pepsin are thought to play a role in diverse diseases, from stomach ulcers to breast cancer to Alzheimer’s disease [R+].

Pepsin is also a kind of endopeptidase, which means it can cut up a protein chain right in the middle – as opposed to exopeptidase that cut proteins up at the ends [R+, R+].

After pepsin has done its job, the peptides it released passes to the intestine. Here other peptidases and proteases further break them down into amino acids you can absorb. Your body then uses these amino acids to build new proteins or burns them for energy [R,

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What Is Catalase?

Catalase is an enzyme, a protein made by a living organism to help facilitate a chemical reaction. Specifically, catalase is an incredibly important and diverse antioxidant enzyme. Despite its importance, few people have heard of catalase.

What Does It Do?

Catalase and Hydrogen Peroxide

Catalase’s main ‘job’ is to remove hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) by converting it into water and oxygen [R].

Hydrogen peroxide is produced during aerobic respiration, the process by which cells generate usable energy by breaking down glucose and oxygen. However, it is considered reactive and can damage just about every part of the cell – so, it’s necessary for cells to remove excess hydrogen peroxide [R].

Importance

Since hydrogen peroxide is a powerful oxidizing agent, catalase is considered one of the more important antioxidant enzymes [R].

It’s worth noting that more complex organisms – including humans – have evolved to rely on hydrogen peroxide to some degree. It can activate the immune system, and immune cells can kill bacteria by bombarding them with oxidants like hydrogen peroxide [R, R, R].

Catalase helps regulate these systems and ensure that the toxic by-products don’t do too much damage to cells, but, as with many aspects of biology, this is a ‘Goldilocks’ scenario – ideally, catalase prevents damage without interfering with important signaling processes [R].

Some types of catalase, particularly those found in mammals, can also help break down other potentially toxic compounds, like alcohol [R, R].

Snapshot

Proponents:

• May increase lifespan and reduce aging
• May protect against cancer
• May help prevent inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease

Skeptics:

• Studies in humans are mostly correlational – they hint at links, not causes
• No evidence that catalase supplements actually affect catalase levels in the body

The post Catalase Enzyme: Roles & Functions + Supplements appeared first on SelfHacked.

What is Rehmannia?

Rehmannia glutinosa is a flowering plant found in central China. It’s sometimes called Chinese foxglove because it looks somewhat like a foxglove flower, though the two aren’t actually related [R].

The roots of this plant have been used in Traditional Chinese and Korean Medicine for over 2,000 years [R, R].

According to the traditional outlook, the harmony of opposite, but complementary, forces – yin and yang – underlies good health. Rehmannia is thought to help with yin energy imbalances. It is traditionally used to fight bacterial infections, as a tonic, and for a variety of conditions associated with inflammation, like asthma and arthritis [R, R, R].

Rehmannia is also often combined with other herbs to remedy “yin deficiency”. For example, it’s one of the six ingredients in a popular Chinese herbal product called Rehmannia Six Formula and one of the seven ingredients in the traditional kidney-nourishing herbal formulation Yukmi-jihang-tang. It is also included in widely-used formulations, such as Liuwei Dihuang Pills [R, R, R].

Snapshot

Proponents:

• May improve anemia by supporting blood cell production
• May support kidney function
• Early evidence of mood, blood sugar, and bone support

Skeptics:

• Unclear which active components are responsible for the benefits
• Researched and often used in multi-herb formulations
• Weak or low-quality evidence for many benefits
• Side effects largely unknown

Rehmannia Root

Although the above-ground parts are sometimes used, herbal remedies are much more often prepared from the orange roots of this plant [R, R].

Depending on how the roots are prepared, they are called [R]:

• Xian-Di-Huang (for the fresh root)
• Sheng-Di-Huang (for baked roots)
• Shu-Di-Huang (for steamed roots) in Chinese

Components

Over 70 active compounds have been found in Rehmannia, including amino acids, simple and complex sugars, vitamins, and plant-specific compounds. Their composition in extracts mostly varies according to the plant species and the root preparation method [R

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