Physician's Choice
Do Digestive Enzymes Help With Constipation? What the Evidence Shows
Updated Oct 23, 2026 · 11 sources
Do digestive enzymes help with constipation? No guideline or review we read says they do. The 2023 U.S. guideline on long-lasting constipation in adults reviewed fiber, laxatives and prescription medicines, not enzymes, and a 2021 review of 41 trials of over-the-counter constipation products included no enzyme product.1,2 Enzymes break food down; moving stool along is the job of muscle contractions in the gut.3
Key points
- Neither the 2023 U.S. guideline nor the 2025 British Dietetic Association guidelines on long-lasting constipation in adults lists digestive enzymes among the options they assessed.1,4
- Cleveland Clinic lists constipation and diarrhea, along with nausea and stomach cramps, among possible side effects of enzyme supplements.5
- For occasional constipation, NIDDK’s at-home steps are more fiber, plenty of water and other liquids, regular physical activity and a regular time for bowel movements.6
- Enzyme supplements do their work during a meal: Health Canada’s monograph directs taking them with or immediately before food.7
Do digestive enzymes help with constipation? What guidelines and reviews say
Not on the evidence we found. The American Gastroenterological Association and the American College of Gastroenterology, in their joint 2023 guideline, ran systematic reviews of fiber, osmotic and stimulant laxatives, secretagogues and a serotonin type 4 agonist; digestive enzymes were not on the list.1 Diet and supplement guidelines for long-lasting constipation from the British Dietetic Association, published in 2025, do not mention digestive enzymes at all.4
Store-bought products tell the same story. A 2021 review of over-the-counter constipation products found 41 eligible randomized trials and sorted them into eight groups, from fiber and fruit-based products to stimulant laxatives; none of the 41 tested an enzyme.2 And no source we read describes an enzyme blend as a laxative.
Do digestive enzymes make you poop?
Not directly. Enzymes work upstream, breaking food into parts the small intestine absorbs. Stool forms later, in the large intestine, from undigested parts of food, fluid and old cells from the gut lining, and waves of muscle contraction called peristalsis move it along.3 What adds bulk to stool is fiber: MedlinePlus explains that insoluble fiber does that and speeds food through the stomach and intestines.8
Where each enzyme is made and what it breaks down is mapped on our page what are digestive enzymes.
Can digestive enzymes cause constipation?
They can. Cleveland Clinic lists constipation among the symptoms you may have when taking a digestive enzyme supplement, along with nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhea.5 NIDDK also counts people who take certain medicines or dietary supplements among those more likely to become constipated, and says to talk with your doctor if you think one of them is the cause.6,9
The same list answers whether digestive enzymes can cause diarrhea: yes, diarrhea is on it.5 Fiber can add gas, too: Our 60 Billion Probiotic and Digestive Enzymes contain inulin, and our Fiber Gummies contain chicory root fiber; gut bacteria break down fibers like these, which can cause gas.
Enzyme supplement or fiber supplement: how they compare for constipation
| Compared on | Digestive enzyme supplement | Fiber supplement |
|---|---|---|
| What it does in the gut | Adds enzymes like the ones the body makes to break down carbohydrates, fats and proteins3 | Insoluble fiber adds bulk to stool; soluble fiber turns to gel8 |
| In the 2023 U.S. guideline on long-lasting constipation | Not among the options reviewed1 | Suggested, as a conditional recommendation on low-certainty evidence; psyllium has the most data, though low in quality1 |
| In the 2021 review of 41 over-the-counter product trials | No enzyme trials2 | Moderate evidence (grade B) for psyllium2 |
| Side effects the sources name | Constipation, nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea5 | Flatulence, the chief one in the guideline’s review1 |
| How it is taken | With or immediately before a meal7 | Standard doses with 8 to 10 ounces of fluid1 |
What helps occasional constipation instead?
Fiber, fluids, movement and routine. NIDDK’s at-home steps are to eat more high-fiber foods, drink plenty of water and other liquids when you eat more fiber or take a fiber supplement, get regular physical activity, and try for a bowel movement at the same time each day, such as 15 to 45 minutes after breakfast, since eating helps the colon move stool.6
Adults get 25 to 38 grams of fiber per day, though exact targets depend on age and sex. Drink plenty of water and other liquids when you take a fiber supplement to help keep things moving.
Probiotics are a separate question, covered on our page can probiotics help with constipation.
How long do digestive enzymes take to work?
They work during the meal you take them with. Health Canada’s monograph for enzyme products directs taking them with or immediately before a meal or food, and our product page says the enzymes in Digestive Enzymes are meant to start working in the stomach.7,10 For bowel habits, no source we read gives a time frame.
Where Physician’s Choice fits
Physician's Choice Fiber Gummies, Easy Mix Fiber and Psyllium Husk Fiber are made to support regularity and help with occasional constipation.‡
Fiber Gummies. A 2-gummy serving holds 5 g of dietary fiber, 18% Daily Value, and chicory root fiber comes first in the ingredients; the label directs adults to chew 2 a day, and a bottle has 30 servings.11 See the label. For timing and how many, see how many fiber gummies a day.
Digestive Enzymes. Digestive Enzymes is a broad-spectrum blend designed to be taken with meals to help break down proteins, fats, dairy, and carbohydrates.‡ Inulin (from Jerusalem artichoke and from chicory) and acacia fiber appear on its label inside the 159 mg Prebiotic and Probiotic Blend, next to three Bacillus probiotics. Its direction: 1 capsule with the day’s largest meal.10 See the label.
For both: Every lot of every product is tested for purity and potency at ISO/IEC 17025-accredited labs, the international standard for testing-lab competence.
Safety: who should check with a healthcare provider first
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, are seriously ill, or have a weakened immune system, consult your healthcare provider before taking a probiotic or any other dietary supplement.
Our Kids line includes a Kids Chewable Probiotic, Fiber Gummies, and a Probiotic + Fiber Powder. These are the only Physician’s Choice products we recommend for children under 18, and each should be used according to its labeled age range and directions. Always consult your child’s pediatrician or healthcare provider before starting a new supplement routine.
If you have known allergies, review the product’s ingredient list and allergen information and consult your healthcare provider before purchasing or using it. Most of our products are formulated without the top 9 common allergens, but ingredients vary by product.
If constipation does not get better with changes to what you eat and drink, talk to your doctor. If bloating is persistent, severe, or feels different than usual, talk with your healthcare provider.
If you experience an adverse event, stop using the product and contact your healthcare provider immediately. Please also notify us at support@physicianschoice.com or 1-877-395-2707. More on what people notice early: our side effects page.
Questions people ask
Do digestive enzymes help with constipation?
No guideline or review we read says they do. The 2023 U.S. guideline on long-lasting constipation and a 2021 review of 41 over-the-counter product trials covered fiber and laxatives, not enzymes. NIDDK points to fiber, liquids and physical activity instead.
Do digestive enzymes make you poop?
Not directly. They break food down in the stomach and small intestine; stool forms later in the large intestine, and muscle contractions move it along. Insoluble fiber is what adds bulk to stool.
Can digestive enzymes cause diarrhea?
They can. Cleveland Clinic lists diarrhea among possible side effects of enzyme supplements, with constipation, nausea and stomach cramps. If it happens, talk with your healthcare provider.
Can digestive enzymes cause constipation?
They can: constipation is on the same Cleveland Clinic list of possible side effects. If you think a supplement is behind it, NIDDK says to talk with your doctor.
How long do digestive enzymes take to work?
They act during the meal you take them with; Health Canada’s monograph directs taking enzyme products with or immediately before food. No source we read gives a time frame for bowel habits.
The short version
No guideline or review we read shows that digestive enzymes help with constipation, and Cleveland Clinic lists constipation and diarrhea among their possible side effects. For occasional constipation, the sources point to fiber, fluids, physical activity and a regular bathroom routine.
Sources
- American Gastroenterological Association and American College of Gastroenterology. Joint clinical guideline on medicines and fiber for long-lasting constipation in adults. Gastroenterology, June 2023.
- Rao SSC, Brenner DM. Systematic review of 41 trials of over-the-counter products for long-lasting constipation. Am J Gastroenterol, June 2021.
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Your Digestive System & How It Works. Last reviewed December 2017.
- British Dietetic Association. Guidelines on diet and supplements for long-lasting constipation in adults. J Hum Nutr Diet, October 2025.
- Cleveland Clinic. Digestive Enzymes 101: Why They’re Important. September 5, 2025.
- NIDDK. Treatment for Constipation. Last reviewed May 2018.
- Health Canada. Natural Health Product Monograph: Digestive Enzymes. June 26, 2026.
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Fiber. Review date July 22, 2026.
- NIDDK. Definition & Facts for Constipation. Last reviewed May 2018.
- Physician’s Choice. Digestive Enzymes product page and Supplement Facts label.
- Physician’s Choice. Fiber Gummies product page and Supplement Facts label.
How this page was made
Sources fetched October 23, 2026. Label facts: our Fiber Gummies and Digestive Enzymes labels and product pages. Written by Physician’s Choice.
‡These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.