Digestive Enzymes vs. Probiotics vs. Prebiotics: What’s the Difference and Do You Need All Three?
By Lemme Editorial Team
Reviewed by Dr. Kathleen Valenton, MD, OB/GYN, Board-Certified Physician, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · Estimated read time: 6 minutes
How Each One Works
The simplest way to understand all three is by when and where each one acts in the body:
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Digestive enzymes act during the meal — they’re proteins that break food down into absorbable nutrients as it moves through your digestive tract. Their job begins the moment you eat.
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Probiotics act over time — they’re beneficial live or spore-forming microorganisms that support the balance of bacteria in the gut microbiome. Benefits build gradually over weeks of consistent daily use.*
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Prebiotics act as ongoing fuel — they’re a type of dietary fiber the body can’t digest, which means they pass through to the gut where beneficial bacteria use them as a food source, helping those bacteria survive and stay active.*
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Digestive Enzymes |
Probiotics |
Prebiotics |
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How it works |
Breaks down food into absorbable nutrients |
Supports balance of gut bacteria |
Feeds beneficial bacteria in the gut |
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When it acts |
During and right after a meal |
Over weeks of daily use |
Ongoing, in parallel with probiotics |
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Speed |
Within 30 min–2 hours [A] |
Weeks to months [B] |
Ongoing [C] |
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In Lemme Debloat Capsules |
DigeSEB® (5 enzymes) |
LactoSpore® + DE111® |
Prebiotic XOS |
[A] Digestive enzymes typically start working within 30 minutes to 2 hours after ingestion when taken just before or during meals.
[B] Most clinical studies on probiotic benefits run between 3 to 12 weeks, with the majority clustering around the 8–12 week mark.
[C] Roberfroid M, et al. (2010). Prebiotics: The Concept Revisited. Journal of Nutrition.
Digestive Enzymes: A Closer Look
Digestive enzymes are proteins produced naturally by the body — primarily in the mouth, stomach, and pancreas — that break down food into smaller molecules your body can absorb. Each enzyme is specialized: amylase breaks down carbohydrates, lipase breaks down fats, protease breaks down proteins, cellulase breaks down plant fibers, and lactase breaks down lactose. For some people, additional enzyme support may be helpful — particularly after large or complex meals containing proteins, fats, dairy, or plant fibers.*
Clinical research supports the role of digestive enzyme supplementation in digestive comfort. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated a multi-enzyme blend including protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase, and lactase in adults with functional dyspepsia over two months, showing significant improvements in quality of life and pain severity compared to placebo. [1] A separate randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in healthy adults with occasional post-meal bloating found that a broad-spectrum digestive enzyme blend was effective and well-tolerated at reducing post-meal abdominal distension compared to placebo. [2]
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EXPERT PERSPECTIVE “Digestive enzymes are particularly relevant for patients who notice bloating or discomfort shortly after meals — especially after eating foods like dairy, beans, or high-fat meals. That post-meal distension is often a sign that the body could use some additional enzymatic support breaking down what was just eaten. The five enzymes in DigeSEB®, found in Lemme Debloat Capsules — protease, amylase, cellulase, lactase, and lipase — are designed to support breakdown of the main macronutrient categories, which is what you want in a broad-spectrum enzyme blend.” — Dr. Kathleen Valenton, MD, OB/GYN, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center* |
Probiotics: A Closer Look
Probiotics are beneficial live or spore-forming microorganisms that work by supporting the balance of bacteria in the gut microbiome. An important distinction: probiotic benefits are strain-specific — the research on one strain does not always apply to another.*
LactoSpore® (Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856), one of the two probiotic strains in Lemme Debloat Capsules, was evaluated in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 70 adults with functional gas and bloating. After 30 days, GSRS indigestion scores decreased significantly in the probiotic group (8.91 to 3.06, p < .001) compared to minimal change in the placebo group. [3] DE111® (Bacillus subtilis) was evaluated in a 105-day randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 50 adults with occasional constipation and/or diarrhea, showing statistically significant improvements in stool consistency compared to placebo. [4] Both strains are spore-forming, meaning they form protective endospores that may help them survive the stomach environment.*
Prebiotics: A Closer Look
Prebiotics are a type of dietary fiber the human body cannot digest — but beneficial gut bacteria can. Lemme Debloat Capsules include Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) — a prebiotic sourced from non-GMO plant fibers that has been studied to support the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.* Research suggests that prebiotics may support the effectiveness of probiotics by providing a food source to help them persist in the gut.* [5]
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EXPERT PERSPECTIVE “Prebiotics are the piece of the gut health puzzle that often gets overlooked — patients focus on the probiotic and forget that the bacteria need something to eat once they’re there. When I recommend a probiotic supplement, I look for one that includes a prebiotic alongside it for exactly this reason.” — Dr. Kathleen Valenton, MD, OB/GYN, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center* |
Do You Need All Three?
The answer depends on your digestive concerns. If your primary issue is post-meal bloating or discomfort after eating specific foods, digestive enzyme support may be helpful. If your focus is ongoing gut microbiome balance and long-term digestive wellness, a clinically studied probiotic paired with a prebiotic may be a good fit. For those who want support across both the meal level and the microbiome level, a formula that includes all three may offer support across more aspects of digestive health.*
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Key Takeaway: Digestive enzymes, probiotics, and prebiotics each address a different part of digestive health. Enzymes work immediately at the meal level; probiotics work gradually at the microbiome level; prebiotics sustain the probiotics. Together, they may address more aspects of digestive health than any one category alone.* |
How Lemme Debloat Capsules Addresses All Three
Lemme Debloat Capsules are formulated as a 3-in-1 daily digestive supplement combining all three categories:
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DigeSEB® Enzyme Blend — five digestive enzymes (protease, amylase, cellulase, lactase, and lipase) designed to support breakdown of hard-to-digest foods at the meal level.*
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LactoSpore® and DE111® — two clinically studied, spore-forming probiotic strains evaluated in randomized, placebo-controlled human trials for digestive, occasional gas, and gut regularity. LactoSpore was also evaluated to support bloating relief.*
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Prebiotic XOS — a non-GMO plant-sourced prebiotic fiber to feed and sustain the beneficial bacteria both probiotic strains help establish.*
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Lemme Debloat Gummies are formulated specifically for daily probiotic and prebiotic support — featuring the same two clinically studied strains, LactoSpore® and DE111®, alongside Prebiotic XOS. If your focus is ongoing gut microbiome balance and long-term digestive wellness, they’re a purposefully designed choice for exactly that.* |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a prebiotic and how is it different from a probiotic?
A probiotic is a beneficial microorganism that supports the gut microbiome over time. A prebiotic is a type of fiber that feeds those microorganisms, helping them survive and thrive. If probiotics are the seeds, prebiotics are the fertilizer. In Lemme Debloat Capsules, Prebiotic XOS is included alongside the two probiotic strains and the DigeSEB® enzyme blend.*
Do I need digestive enzymes, probiotics, and prebiotics together?
It depends on your digestive concerns. Enzymes work at the meal level; probiotics support the microbiome over time; prebiotics sustain the bacteria probiotics help establish. A formula that includes all three may offer support across more aspects of digestive health than any single category alone. Individual needs vary — consulting a healthcare provider is recommended.*
What enzymes are in Lemme Debloat Capsules?
Lemme Debloat Capsules include the DigeSEB® enzyme blend: Protease (supports protein breakdown), Amylase (supports carbohydrate breakdown), Cellulase (supports plant fiber breakdown), Lactase (supports dairy sugar breakdown), and Lipase (supports fat breakdown). Together they are designed to support digestion of the main macronutrient categories found in a typical meal.*
About Lemme Debloat Capsules
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Lemme Debloat Capsules ✓ LactoSpore® (Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856) — clinically studied probiotic for bloating and occasional gas ✓ DE111® (Bacillus subtilis) — clinically studied probiotic for gut regularity and digestive support ✓ Prebiotic XOS (Xylooligosaccharides) — plant-sourced prebiotic to feed beneficial bacteria ✓ DigeSEB® Enzyme Blend — 5 digestive enzymes: Protease, Amylase, Cellulase, Lactase, Lipase ✓ Vegetarian · Gluten-Free · Non-GMO · No Artificial Sweeteners or Dyes 3-in-1: Clinically Studied Probiotics + Prebiotic + Digestive Enzymes |
Citations
[1] ScienceDirect (2023). Efficacy of digestive enzyme supplementation in functional dyspepsia: a monocentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332223016566
[2] Dove Press (2024). A multi-digestive enzyme and herbal dietary supplement reduces bloating in healthy adults. https://www.dovepress.com/a-multi-digestive-enzyme-and-herbal-dietary-supplement-reduces-bloatin-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-NDS
[3] Majeed M, et al. (2023). The effects of Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 on functional gas and bloating in adults. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36862903/
[4] Cuentas AM, et al. The Effect of Bacillus subtilis DE111 on the Daily Bowel Movement Profile. Journal of Probiotics & Health. https://www.longdom.org/open-access/the-effect-of-embacillus-subtilisem-de111-on-the-daily-bowel-movement-profile-for-people-with-occasional-gastrointestina-36720.html
[5] Roberfroid M, et al. (2010). Prebiotics: The Concept Revisited. Journal of Nutrition, 104(S2):S1-63. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114510003363
About the Expert Reviewer
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OB/GYN · Board-Certified Physician · Rodeo Drive Women’s Health Center, Beverly Hills, CA Kathleen Valenton, MD is a double board-certified OB/GYN at Rodeo Drive Women’s Health Center in Beverly Hills, CA, with over a decade of experience in women’s health. She completed her internship and residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center — where she remains an attending physician — after earning her Medical Degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine and dual Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Psychology from UC Berkeley. Her clinical research interests span mental health, hormonal health, infertility, PCOS, and menopause. Dr. Valenton is known for her expertise in pelvic pain, infertility evaluations, and minimally invasive surgery, and remains actively involved in resident education and physician-nursing collaboratives at Cedars-Sinai. Dr. Valenton is a paid partner of Lemme. Her views are her own and based on her clinical experience. |
*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. Individual results may vary.
