NOW Foods Super Enzymes - 90 Tablets
NOW Foods Super Enzymes - 90 Tablets
NOW Foods Super Enzymes Tablets is a broad-spectrum digestive enzyme food supplement: each tablet declares seven named enzyme activities (amylase, protease, lipase, bromelain, papain, pepsin and cellulase) alongside 200 mg betaine HCl and 100 mg ox bile extract, in a 90-tablet bottle taken one tablet with a meal.
This is the tablet formulation of NOW Super Enzymes. It is not the same formula as the NOW Super Enzymes capsule: the tablet carries a lower pancreatic enzyme activity per serving (amylase and protease 20,000 USP units each, lipase 1,600 USP units), includes porcine pepsin in place of the capsule's fungal acid-stable protease, and adds 20 mg calcium. The tablet is also smaller (about 2 cm) and uses a pharmaceutical glaze coating rather than a gelatine capsule shell. The full comparison is in the FAQ below so you can choose the right format.
Two facts matter before you buy. First, this product contains ingredients of animal origin (porcine pancreatic enzymes, porcine pepsin and bovine bile extract), so it is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans. Second, no EU-authorised health claim exists for any digestive enzyme, for betaine HCl, for ox bile extract or for papaya, so this page describes what is in the tablet and does not claim what it does for you.
At a glance
- Type: digestive enzyme food supplement, tablet, 90 tablets, 1 tablet with a meal (90 servings)
- Enzyme activity per tablet: amylase 20,000 USP units, protease 20,000 USP units, lipase 1,600 USP units (from porcine pancreatic enzymes), bromelain 120 GDU, papain 100,000 FCC PU, pepsin 500,000 FCC pepsin units, cellulase 10 FCC CU
- Also per tablet: betaine HCl 200 mg, ox bile extract 100 mg (min. 45% total cholic acids), papaya fruit powder 45 mg, calcium 20 mg (2.5% NRV)
- Suitability: contains porcine and bovine ingredients, not suitable for vegetarians or vegans; contains sulphites; not manufactured with soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients
- Manufacturer: NOW Foods, made and quality tested in the USA; Probiotic.ie is an authorised Irish retailer for NOW Foods
- Regulatory status: sold as a food supplement under Irish and EU food law (FSAI); not a medicine
- Delivery: ships from Dublin, Ireland; free delivery on orders over €75; no customs charges
Supplement facts
Serving size: 1 tablet. Servings per container: 90. Enzyme activities are declared in the activity unit for each enzyme (USP, GDU, FCC) as printed on the NOW Foods label; these are activity measurements, not weights.
| Per tablet | Amount | % NRV |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium (from calcium carbonate) | 20 mg | 2.5% |
| Betaine HCl | 200 mg | † |
| Ox bile extract (min. 45% total cholic acids) | 100 mg | † |
| Papaya fruit powder | 45 mg | † |
| Enzyme blend | 182 mg | † |
| Pancreatin 10X (porcine), supplying: | ||
| — Amylase | 20,000 USP units | † |
| — Protease | 20,000 USP units | † |
| — Lipase | 1,600 USP units | † |
| Bromelain (from pineapple) | 120 GDU | † |
| Papain (from papaya) | 100,000 FCC PU | † |
| Cellulase | 10 FCC CU | † |
| Pepsin (porcine) | 500,000 FCC pepsin units | † |
† No Nutrient Reference Value (NRV) established. NRV for calcium calculated against the EU reference value of 800 mg (Regulation 1169/2011).
Other ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, maltodextrin, hydroxypropyl cellulose, pharmaceutical glaze, silicon dioxide, stearic acid (vegetable source), magnesium stearate (vegetable source), croscarmellose sodium. Contains sulphites. Not manufactured with soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens. Natural colour variation may occur (tablet is brown with speckles).
Key features
- Every enzyme is declared individually with its own activity unit (USP, GDU, FCC) rather than hidden inside a proprietary blend weight
- Pancreatic enzyme fraction standardised at 10X strength, supplying 20,000 USP units each of amylase and protease and 1,600 USP units of lipase per tablet
- Betaine HCl 200 mg and ox bile extract 100 mg, with the bile extract standardised to a minimum of 45% total cholic acids
- Plant-sourced bromelain (pineapple) and papain (papaya) alongside porcine pepsin and cellulase
- Smaller format than the NOW Super Enzymes capsule: tablet is about 2 cm (0.8 inch) versus a 1-inch capsule
- Not manufactured with soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients; made and quality tested in the USA
- Ships from Dublin with no customs charges; Probiotic.ie is an authorised Irish retailer for NOW Foods
Tablet or capsule? Choose the right NOW Super Enzymes format
The two formats share the same core (betaine HCl 200 mg, ox bile extract 100 mg, papaya 45 mg, bromelain 120 GDU, papain 100,000 FCC PU, cellulase 10 CU) but differ in the pancreatic enzyme fraction and the acid-stage protease. The NOW Super Enzymes capsules declare amylase and protease at 37,000 USP units and lipase at 2,960 USP units, with a fungal acid-stable protease (1,233 HUT) instead of pepsin, in a bovine gelatine capsule. The tablet is the smaller, gelatine-free format at a lower pancreatic activity. Neither format is presented as stronger or better; they are different formulations and the right one depends on what you want on the label.
Browse the full range: Gut Support Supplements · NOW Foods in Ireland
How to take
Take 1 tablet with a meal, as directed on the label. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. For adults aged 18 years and over. Store in a cool, dry place after opening and keep the lid tightly closed.
Frequently asked questions
What is NOW Foods Super Enzymes Tablets?
NOW Foods Super Enzymes Tablets is a food supplement from the US manufacturer NOW Foods. Each tablet contains a blend of seven digestive enzymes (amylase, protease and lipase from porcine pancreatic enzymes, plus bromelain, papain, pepsin and cellulase) together with betaine HCl 200 mg, ox bile extract 100 mg, papaya fruit powder 45 mg and calcium 20 mg. It comes in a bottle of 90 tablets and the label directs one tablet with a meal.
Which enzymes are in each tablet, and how much of each?
Per tablet: amylase 20,000 USP units, protease 20,000 USP units and lipase 1,600 USP units (from porcine pancreatic enzymes, 10X strength), bromelain from pineapple 120 GDU, papain from papaya 100,000 FCC PU, cellulase 10 FCC CU and pepsin (porcine) 500,000 FCC pepsin units. The total enzyme blend weighs 182 mg. Amylase, protease, lipase and cellulase are named for the class of substrate on which each enzyme acts (starch, protein, fat and cellulose respectively); this is enzyme nomenclature, not a claim about the effect of the product.
What do USP, GDU and FCC units mean?
They are enzyme activity units, not weights. Each measures how much of a standard substrate an enzyme preparation acts on under defined laboratory conditions: USP units follow the United States Pharmacopeia method, GDU (gelatin digesting units) is the standard assay for bromelain, and FCC units (papain units, cellulase units, pepsin units) follow the Food Chemicals Codex methods. Units from different assays cannot be converted into one another or into milligrams, so two products can only be compared on the same enzyme measured in the same unit.
How is the tablet different from NOW Super Enzymes capsules?
The tablet and capsule share betaine HCl 200 mg, ox bile extract 100 mg, papaya 45 mg, bromelain 120 GDU, papain 100,000 FCC PU and cellulase 10 CU. They differ in four ways. The tablet's pancreatic enzyme fraction is lower (amylase and protease 20,000 USP units each and lipase 1,600 USP units, against 37,000, 37,000 and 2,960 in the capsule). The tablet uses porcine pepsin (500,000 FCC pepsin units) where the capsule uses a fungal acid-stable protease (1,233 HUT). The tablet adds calcium 20 mg. And the tablet is coated with a pharmaceutical glaze and is about 2 cm long, while the capsule is a 1-inch bovine gelatine capsule. The ox bile extract is standardised to a minimum of 45% total cholic acids in the tablet and 42% in the capsule.
Is NOW Super Enzymes Tablets suitable for vegetarians or vegans?
No. The pancreatic enzymes and the pepsin are porcine (pig-derived) and the bile extract is bovine (ox-derived). Anyone avoiding pork-derived or beef-derived ingredients for dietary or religious reasons should not choose this product. Bromelain and papain are plant-sourced, but the product as a whole is not vegetarian.
Does it contain allergens?
The label states that the product contains sulphites. It is not manufactured with soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut or sesame ingredients, but it is produced in a facility that processes those allergens. The label also cautions anyone with an allergy to papaya or pineapple to consult a doctor before use, because papain and bromelain are derived from those fruits.
Are digestive enzyme supplements legal in Ireland?
Yes. Products like this are sold in Ireland as food supplements under EU and Irish food law, overseen by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). No EU health claim has been authorised for any digestive enzyme, betaine HCl, ox bile extract or papaya under Regulation 1924/2006, so no claim is made on this page. The product is not a medicine and is not a substitute for any treatment prescribed by a doctor.
How many tablets do I take, and how long does a bottle last?
The label directs one tablet with a meal. A 90-tablet bottle is 90 servings: at one tablet with each of three meals a day that is 30 days, and at one tablet a day it is three months. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose.
Are there any precautions?
The manufacturer's label states the product is for adults only, and that you should consult a doctor before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, taking any medication (in particular blood-thinning medication) or have a medical condition, including an allergy to papaya or pineapple. Keep out of reach of children. Discontinue use and seek advice if any adverse reaction occurs.
How is it delivered in Ireland, and are there customs charges?
Probiotic.ie dispatches from Dublin, so there are no customs charges or import duties on Irish orders, unlike orders shipped from the US or the UK. Delivery is tracked across Ireland and is free on orders over €75. Probiotic.ie is an authorised Irish retailer for NOW Foods.
Product details: NOW Foods · Super Enzymes · 90 tablets · 1 tablet per serving · tablet with pharmaceutical glaze coating (not vegetarian) · manufacturer item 2960 · authorised Irish retailer for NOW Foods.
Advisory information (Ireland)
- Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
- For adults aged 18 years and over. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose.
- Consult your doctor before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, taking medication (especially blood-thinning medication), under medical supervision, or have an allergy to papaya or pineapple.
- Contains sulphites. Contains ingredients of porcine and bovine origin.
- Keep out of reach of children. Do not use if the seal under the cap is broken or missing.
- Store in a cool, dry place after opening.
- This product is a food supplement, not a medicine. Food supplements in Ireland are regulated under EU food law and overseen by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).