AFP Peptizyde™ was developed in response to customer requests for a high DPP IV-containing enzyme product that did not include fruit-based enzymes such as papain or bromelain. Like Peptizyde™ (which does contain papain), it is a combination of three different proteolytic enzymes isolated from fungal plant sources. Each enzyme has a unique set of peptide bonds it prefers to break, so the combination of these enzymes allows much more efficient means of quickly and thoroughly breaking down (hydrolyzing) proteins to its smaller components. The enzymes in AFP Peptizyde™ work only on food proteins, not carbohydrates, fats, or other compounds, and do not interfere with medications or other supplements (unless they are also proteins, which is extremely unlikely). AFP Peptizyde™ may be used in combination with other enzyme products, such as Zyme Prime, No-Fenol or other enzyme products. If undecided as to use Peptizyde or AFP Peptizyde™, opt for AFP Peptizyde due to it having no odor/taste or papain.

The aminopeptidase enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV, or DPP IV, is able to hydrolyze and inactivate the exorphin peptide, casomorphin and is present in both Peptizyde and AFP Peptizyde. However, for maximal protein breakdown, DPP IV is not useful alone, and should be combined with other proteases with different and less stringent peptide bond specificity. For this reason, AFP Peptizyde™ contains two other fungal proteases with high activity in acid conditions. These enzymes are present in AFP Peptizyde™ in high amounts for the purpose of quickly hydrolyzing proteins while the food is still in the stomach. The ability of AFP Peptizyde™ enzymes to withstand the low pH of the stomach and remain active under acidic conditions allows hydrolysis of casein and gluten prior to entrance into the small intestine. Casein and gluten, in the presence of pancreatic enzymes in the duodenum, can produce exorphin peptides that may be readily absorbed from the intestine (these peptides are not absorbed from the stomach). AFP Peptizyde™ supplements the "normal" hydrolysis of casein, gluten, and other food proteins such that the exorphin peptides are not produced because the specific cleavage pattern to produce these peptides is altered.

AFP Peptizyde™ is similar to Peptizyde™ in that it also contains only those enzymes needed for protein hydrolysis. No other enzymes have been added. This allows parents to customize enzyme supplementation to the specific needs of their child. Another advantage to this approach is that less potential exists for intolerance reactions due to additional and perhaps unnecessary enzyme proteins. Also, by using only three enzyme blends in AFP Peptizyde™, larger amounts of each enzyme can be added per capsule, insuring that more hydrolysis of food protein can take place in the short time that food is in the stomach.

AFP Peptizyde™ is also different from other company's products in that it has allowed many families to safely modify or even abandon the gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet, thus allowing families more choice in foods available, better nutrition (by re-incorporating important protein sources back into the family diet), and much less stress and worry from fear of food reactions.

Appetite may increase as well as showing more interest in other types of foods. AFP Peptizyde™ may allow for re-introduction of dairy and wheat products to the diet without abnormal behaviors occurring. Benefits from AFP Peptizyde™ do vary with each individual and may be affected by other supplements and diet. Other supplements, especially vitamin and minerals, may be decreased in amount or frequency of dosing as more nutrition is derived from diet with enzymes.

AFP Peptizyde is recommended for high protein diets and athletic training; and dosing may be increased for those meals that are higher in meat protein.

Using AFP Peptizyde™ as an Alternative to the GFCF Diet

The procedure recommended by most parents who have successfully abandoned the GFCF diet using AFP Peptizyde™ is to use the enzymes while maintaining the diet for a period of at least 2 months. When challenging with foods known to be a problem, use small portions initially with 1 or 2 capsules of AFP Peptizyde™. The intention is to provide more than enough AFP Peptizyde™ to counter the effects of casein/gluten. If the challenge was successful, increasing the amount of food given may be attempted, keeping in mind that more AFP Peptizyde™ may be necessary to counter the increased size of the food challenge. For occasional use, up to 4 capsules may be given for infractions, any more than that will probably not provide any additional benefit.

Contraindications for Enzyme Supplementation

These enzymes should be used with care in cases of active stomach or duodenal ulcers, severe bowel inflammation (characterized by blood in stools), hemophilia and other bleeding disorders, or within a week of scheduled surgery. This product may not be appropriate for those with known allergies to Aspergillus enzyme proteins, though non-specific mold allergies do not necessarily preclude use of fungal enzymes. Consult your medical doctor for further advice, and err on the side of caution. Those with known anaphylactic allergic reactions to fungal proteins should NOT ingest fungal-derived enzymes.

For those using Peptizyde™ successfully, there is no need to change to AFP Peptizyde™. AFP Peptizyde™ was designed for those who could not tolerate the original Peptizyde™ formulation.

Peptizyde™ is a trademark of Houston Nutraceuticals, Inc.

AFP Peptizyde

No upper limit has been established for enzyme dosing, and animal studies with similar enzymes found no toxicity at dosing as high as 2000 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day for 90 days. Most find using 1 to 2 capsules per meal adequate, and most likely no further benefits will occur with higher dosing, though more may be given for the infrequent and large food challenges. Each person is different so we encourage some experimentation to find the dose that best helps each person.