AutismWeb Forum

With all the recent posts about enzymes, I was just wondering if anyone has tried GlutenEase from Enzymedica? It looks very promising for those of us with kids on a GF/CF diet. I bought some, and I was trying to figure out how to start it. Would I just start with one capsule at breakfast and one at dinner? Do you have to give enzymes for any period before you add in offending foods (ie. give them for a week and then try something that has G or C) or just give the enzyme and the G or C cold turkey? What happens if there is no G or C to digest and you give it anyway? My daughter cannot take a pill. Can I open the capsule and mix it into applesauce? Sorry this got so long! Thanks for any help!

Hannah,
I never heard of it. We used Zyme Prime and AFP Peptizyde. Hopefully someone has tried this or knows more but I did find some info to compare the products. Hope this helps.

b's mom




GlutenEASE:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/7/prweb407877.htm
Each capsule of GlutenEase provides:
DPP IV Protease Thera-blend
Amylase Thera-blend
Glucoamylase

60,000 HUT
15,000 DU
15 AGU
This product contain(s) no fillers.


http://www.houstonni.com/products/
AFP Peptizide:
Two (2) tablets of AFP Chewable contain:
Peptidase (source of DPP IV)......33,250 HUT
Protease 4.5......................16,500 HUT
Protease 6.0......................16,500 HUT

Other Ingredients: Fructose, xylitol, stearic acid, natural tangerine flavor, natural orange juice powder, magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide, citric acid, and salt. All HNI products are free of gluten, casein, soy, MSG, salicylates, and artificial colors.

ZYME PRIME:
Amylase 8500 DU *
Protease 4.5 28500 HUT *
Glucoamylase 18 AGU *
Alpha-Galactosidase 140 GalU *
CereCalase(tm) 285 MU (14 mg) *
Lactase 1000 ALU *
Lipase 140 FCCLU *
*Daily Value Not Established

Other Ingredients: Xylitol, Natural Mixed Berry flavor, sodium chloride, citric acid, fructose, stearic acid, silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate.

Contains NO starch, dairy, yeast, wheat, gluten, corn, soy, preservatives, artificial colors, artificial flavors or animal derivatives. HNI uses only the highest quality FDA GRAS approved plant-based enzymes available.

I used gluten ease with my son, I would give it to him before a meal that I knew may contain gluten (say out to eat, cross contamination). I also continued to give it to him as we eased back into G/C foods. Worked great for him, and I also have a friend who is a celiac and she takes gluten ease and swears it is the only enzyme that helps her with those infractions.

I also found it helpful if given after an accident, say he grabbed some of his sister's crackers. When going off GFCF I find it even more important to keep up with giving enzymes before each meal and snack if possible. I have not used gluten ease in a while only because we know use Garden of Life products (Primal Defense and Q-zyme).

hth

Thank you both so much for your replies! I really appreciate your thoughts and comments.

Dana-Were you able to go off the diet using GlutenEase, or just handle small infractions and cross contamination issues? I started giving it to her two days ago still totally GF/CF with breakfast and dinner and then I gave it again yesterday just once in the morning with breakfast. Her teachers at preschool said she was a little "silly" yesterday. Is this normal? Would it be from the enzyme or just an "off" day? I gave her another one this morning. I am slightly concerned if the enzyme is the issue, even if it is temporary, because she is having her Kindergarten transition testing on Thursday (2/8/07) and her IEP meeting on the 16th. I just want her to do her best and not have this be an issue. Any thoughts? How long should this last if this is the problem? Should I discontinue until after her testing or would that cause further setbacks?

Should I be giving another enzyme as well? It says it works best when used with Digest or Digest Gold. Are these really more helpful? Also, if I know that there is no cross contamination or infractions, should I still give it with ALL meals and snacks? Or just once or twice a day?

As always... thank you everyone for your helpful support!!!

Hannah,

Since still GFCF, maybe start with giving the enzyme with meals after school, snack, dinner. That way you can observe her reaction. With my son, I did not notice any behaviors from the enzymes or any negative reactions. Enzymes will basically digest the food and make it more easily absorbed. It should not cause issues, but that is not to say that it cannot. If given on any empty stomach it will eat away at any yeast in the gut, the die off of the yeast will release toxins and you will have yeast die off which is painful in the gut, will cause gas and stomach aches, bloating....watch for that if she takes her enzyme and then refuses her breakfast/meal. Maybe she would also do better with a smaller dose. Maybe just a little sprinkle on her food?????

You can certainly add in other forms of enzymes as there are many different types that aid in different ways (dairy, carbs, sugars, proteins, gluten, etc.) Just depends on the need. I always found that anything containing DPP IV was plenty. Then we moved in the Garden of Life products and just stuck with those since they work well on my guy.

We were able to go off of gfcf a few months ago. I credit years of being gfcf, then scd, valtrex (really cleaned the gut), LiverLife and Garden of Life. He eats organic as much as possible, and I now make my own breads and cookies with organic ingredients and whole grains. All meals are as natural as possible, some chicken with potatoes or rice and a vegetable and a whole wheat homemade roll. I also try to get in as much protein as possible. He tolerates dairy for the first time since he was one. The other day he ate a yogurt for the first time in his life!!! He LOVED it!! First clean the gut, then reintroduce foods, whole foods, organic foods. Stay away from convenience food and junk food.

Good luck and keep me updated, OK!!!

Dana, thank you so much as usual! She seems to be doing fine on it. I added the EPO and Grapeseed three weeks ago too and she is doing great! This is according to her private pay ST and OT, her preschool teacher at her "typical preschool", her dance teacher and her Sunday School teacher (who, by the way, doesn't know she is on the spectrum!). The only people who have said anything negative about her, is the teacher at her developemental preschool and the ST there. I, personally, think that it is because she is due for a new IEP next week and they are not happy with the placement my husband and I have made for her for Kindergarten (without their input). Why does everything have to be so pride based with some people!? I just hope her IEP goals are a true reflection of her abilities. Anyway... I am excited at how well she is doing and everyone has seen it!!! Wish me luck on her IEP meeting next week!!!

You're welcome! It is wonderful to hear how well she is doing, congratulations and keep up the good work!

Good luck at the IEP, I know how those are....we also had the early intervention teacher that wanted to call all the shots. Stay strong...

Hi Dana. Here is an update on Sarah and the GlutenEase. EVERYONE (including her Sunday School teacher who we never told that Sarah has ASD) started noticing that she was not herself. My husband and I started noticing that she was moody, defiant, and non compliant. She actually had to be put in time out in her OT session and had two seperate meltdowns duing this session (and she LOVES her OT to death!). Everyone was wondering what was up! I have not given her an enzyme for about a week and a half (this is the only thing that has changed) and she is back to her normal loving, charming self. Her OT said she had a GREAT session yesterday very engaged and no issues at all (a far cry from last Friday!). Anyway... she is much better now than she was the two weeks we were giving them.

Her IEP went OK. They did recommend the "Cross Catagorical Kindergarten" class on her IEP, but also put that, "Her parents have chosen a placement at a Charter School for the 2007-2008 school year" so whatever. I really don't care what they think anyway. Her teachers at her "typical" preschool, her private OT and private SLP (who have both worked for school districts in the past) think she will do just fine in a regular class, so that is good enough for me! She will be getting 60 minutes a week of Speech and 90 minutes a month of OT next year. Oh! Something else that I thought was pretty cool, they have her primary "IEP under IDEA Category" as Speech/Language Impairment with no secondary reason listed. My question is, if they view her only debilitating issue as "Speech/Language Impairment", then why do they think the best placement is a CCK class?! It makes no sense to me!

Oh well... Thanks for listening. Maybe I will try another enzyme and see what happens (Zyme Prime or AFP etc.).

How do these taste? Is there an issue getting them to take it? Do all enzymes have a icky flavor?

Hi Froggger, I don't think they tasted bad. My daughter took it no problem. She cannot take a pill yet, so I opened the capcule and added it to applesauce when we were out. However... I am not SURE that they aren't bad tasting, because she doesn't really have a problem taking anything. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful!