Leave gas in the past: Intoleran targets global food intolerances with enzyme supplements

09 Feb 2022 --- Intoleran’s director of finance and operation, Bouke Smeets, says the company’s clean label enzyme supplements help consumers “functionally avoid” the adverse effects of certain food intolerances. NutritionInsight speaks with Smeets about Intoleran’s enzyme supplements and its plans to increase its presence in Europe and the US.

Intoleran supplements contain enzymes found within the body that help break down nutrients that may be hard to digest. The company has supplements alleviating intolerance to lactose, fructose, starch and fiber. Intoleran also offers a supplement containing diamine oxidase, an enzyme to treat histamine intolerance.

The Netherlands-based company has recently expanded into Italy, Spain and Australia, and wants to make its products more available to its US consumers. 

“We started as a company in the Netherlands, so most of our products are sold there. However, due to our unique range of products for different intolerances and most FODMAPs like fructose, starch, sucrose, fructans and galactans, we help customers all around the world,” she says.

Intoleran’s products are “low FODMAP-certified” by Monash University.Food intolerance is rising
FODMAPs – fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols – are a group of sugars that are not completely digested or absorbed by the intestines. They can ferment when they pass into the large intestine, leading to gas, bloating and discomfort.

Smeets says Intoleran is currently developing web content to help those suffering from digestive issues figure out the root cause of the problem and identify potential solutions. 

“For example, we have recently launched an Intolerance Check. This helps explain what food contains which nutrients and FODMAPS to help clients understand their issues.”

Increasingly, industry members are being pushed to address food sensitivities and intolerances to better serve customers. Rising global allergy rates have fueled this.

The current market for enzyme supplements
Since Intoleran’s start 14 years ago, the space for enzyme supplements to alleviate food intolerance has exploded. According to Smeets, greater accessibility of knowledge is fuelling the rise of enzyme supplements. 

“When people suffer from, for example, gas and bloating nowadays, there are more dieticians and doctors with the knowledge to identify the root cause of their symptoms, which is often food intolerance. Due to the growing awareness, the demand for enzyme supplements that can help to support a healthy diet has been growing.”

Smeets informs that the products are clean label and produced in Intoleran’s own facility with as few ingredients as possible to avoid unnecessary additives. Limiting added ingredients increases Intoleran’s consumer base by making the products appeal to the broadest pool of customers.

“For example, our Lactase capsule only contains three ingredients: lactase enzyme, small amounts of calcium carbonate as a filler and the HPMC capsule itself. In most of our competitors, we see a wide variety of long lists of ingredients.”

Food intolerance is often caused by enzyme deficiency 
Diet-related intolerance is a common issue faced by many people who sometimes go their whole lives without understanding the source of theirIntoleran’s supplements means eligible users no longer have to avoid the source of their food intolerance, meaning less dietary restrictions. diet-related symptoms.

“With food intolerance, there is often a problem in the breakdown of food and with digestion. This may be due to the fact that there is a deficiency of a certain enzyme or an enzyme is completely missing.”

Smeets explains that carbohydrates, proteins and fats are typically broken down and digested in the small intestine. However, if a person’s digestive processes are not functioning correctly, food and nutrients can wind up in the large intestine instead, where bacteria break down what one has ingested. Depending on the nutrient being digested, this can lead to “fermentation.”

“The problem is that this so-called ‘fermentation’ process often releases gas and moisture that cause unpleasant intestinal symptoms.”

Intoleran’s enzyme supplements 
At Intoleran, the apparent answer to this problem lies in enzyme supplements. 

“Our tablets, capsules and drops are easy to use and contain the body’s own enzyme that is missing to break down the certain type of food you are intolerant to. The enzymes in our products help to digest problematic products better and reduce symptoms of food intolerance.”

After taking an Intoleran supplement, users are protected from the effects of food intolerance for between 30-45 minutes.

“We provide peace of mind for this topic for our clients. The ‘wow’ effect and the direct cure and instant digestive pain release clients experience is amazing for those who are severely affected by their issues,” she closes.

By Olivia Nelson