A stomach ulcer is a sore or eaten-away area that forms when stomach acid begins to destroy the stomach lining. The most frequent cause of ulceration is a bacterial infection, but there are other contributing factors. Digestive enzymes neither cause stomach ulcers, nor can digestive enzyme supplements prevent or treat them.
Bacterial Infection
Though there's a common perception that most stomach ulcers result from the overproduction of stomach acid, they actually have more to do with the integrity of the stomach's mucous lining than anything else. For this reason, bacterial infection -- which disrupts the protective coating on the inside of the stomach -- is the most common cause of ulceration. The bacterial species responsible for this is Helicobacter pylori.
Other Causes
Though infection by H. pylori is the most likely cause of ulcers, there are other things that can lead to them. Certain pain-relieving drugs increase your risk of ulcer -- specifically, the COX 2 enzyme inhibitors including aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. These pharmaceuticals selectively block the action of enzymes that produce prostaglandins, which are inflammatory, but they also appear to disrupt the integrity of the stomach lining -- for reasons that aren't completely understood.
Digestive Enzymes
Your gastrointestinal tract relies upon a number of proteins called digestive enzymes to help break down your food. These help speed the reactions whereby large nutrient molecules break into smaller compounds that you can absorb. Most of the digestive enzymes you produce are found in the small intestine, though a few are found in the stomach.
Treating Ulcers
Digestive enzymes really have nothing to do with ulcer formation, and they can't help treat ulcers. This is because they don't digest the lining of the stomach, nor do they prevent its disruption by bacteria and pharmaceuticals. If you have an ulcer, your treatment options will depend upon the probably cause -- antibiotics, for instance, will help if your ulcer is caused by H. pylori -- but supplemental digestive enzymes won't make any difference.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Ulcers; Jan. 6, 2011
- "Human Physiology"; Lauralee Sherwood, Ph.D.; 2004
- "Biochemistry"; Reginald Garrett, Ph.D. and Charles Grisham, Ph.D.; 2007
