What is Standard Process Zypan®?: Uses, Benefits, and Ingredients

Overeating, undereating, stress: it can all lead to that gassy, bloated, oops-I-ate-too-much feeling after a meal. While the normal digestive process eventually takes care of this feeling as food is broken down in the stomach and moved through the intestines, it can take anywhere from 6 to 12 hours to fully digest a large meal. 

And as we age, our bodies become less effective at breaking down food–especially high-fat and high-protein meals. This means we’re left feeling sick and uncomfortable for longer and longer after eating. It might even mean our gut is unhealthy.  

So, what’s the solution, avoid steaks and cheeseburgers forever after age 45? Of course not. 

Certain supplements can help us replace the naturally-occurring digestive enzymes that our body loses over time. In certain cases, such as individuals suffering from pancreatic cancer or following gastrointestinal surgery, digestive enzyme supplements may be prescribed to help the body overcome severe enzyme inefficiency. In other cases, people may take over-the-counter enzyme supplements for digestive issues such as bloating, gas, and diarrhea. 

Even better: these supplements can help increase the effectiveness of probiotics, fermented foods, and a healthy diet when it comes to keeping your gut healthy!

In this article, we’ll discuss one over-the-counter digestive enzyme supplement: Standard Process Zypan®.  

What is Standard Process Zypan®? 

Standard Process Zypan® is a digestive enzyme supplement designed to help the body breakdown food–especially the fats, proteins, and complex carbohydrates that stress out our digestive systems and make us gassy. 

For optimal effectiveness, Zypan® combines three naturally-occurring digestive enzymes to support digestive health. Those enzymes–pepsin, pancreatin, and betaine hydrochloride–each act on different parts of the digestive tract to facilitate digestion. 

Pepsin: Increased protein digestion

Pepsin is a powerful enzyme that is produced by our stomach lining. Pepsin is formed when the stomach’s mucosal-membrane secretes pepsinogen in response to hormonal triggers. The pepsinogen mixes with stomach acid (specifically, hydrochloric acid) to form the active enzyme pepsin. 

Pepsin is responsible for the breakdown of proteins into peptides, a class of smaller, more usable chemical compounds that the body uses for hormone synthesis, metabolism, and cell movement, among a range of other essential functions. These peptides then pass into the intestines where they are absorbed into the bloodstream or broken down further by other enzymes. 

Pancreatin: Increased nutrient absorption

Pancreatin is a commercial mixture of several natural enzymes that are normally made in the pancreas. These enzymes are: amylase, protease, and lipase. Each is responsible for breaking down a particular type of nutrient and helping the body convert it into energy. 

Amylase helps breakdown carbohydrates, especially starches, into their constitutive components. Specifically, pancreatic amylase acts within the small intestine, and is responsible for turning starch into maltose, which is then further digested into glucose (the body’s primary energy source) by other enzymes.

Protease is an enzyme class responsible for breaking down proteins into peptides and amino acids. Obviously, this has major benefits for easing digestive discomfort such as the bloating, gas, and indigestion that may accompany a protein-heavy meal, but protease has a much wider impact on our health. Increased protein absorption also has implications for faster post-workout recovery, less muscle tenderness, and wound healing. 

Lipase is responsible for breaking down fats for absorption in the intestines. Individuals suffering from Indigestion, Celiac disease, and cystic fibrosis may benefit from supplementing lipase to help nutrient absorption. 

Betaine Hydrochloride: Keep your microbiome healthy! 

There are two parts to betaine hydrochloride. The first is betaine, a natural chemical that the body absorbs from grains. The second is hydrochloride, as in hydrochloric acid–the same substance that makes our stomach acid acidic. 

Some people lack enough hydrochloric acid for their digestive enzymes to function properly. In this case, supplementing hydrochloric acid is necessary to help them maintain proper pH in their GI tract. 

However, you can’t just swallow hydrochloric acid (or, you shouldn’t unless you want to make a trip to the ER). That’s why Zypan® uses betaine hydrochloride–a safe and effective hydrochloric acid precursor that breaks down to the proper in the stomach, where the environment is meant to be acidic. 

Thanks to betaine hydrochloride, Zypan® is able to supercharge the body’s ability to digest, extract, and absorb nutrients from food. 

What is Zypan® used for? 

Zypan® is used to support the body’s natural digestive processes and may ease bloating, gas, and diarrhea due to poor digestion. Standard Process Zypan® helps macronutrient digestion and absorption in the stomach and the intestines, supplementing key digestive enzymes that decline as we age.  With added betaine hydrochloride, Zypan® also helps balance gastric pH levels for a healthy microbial balance. 

Benefits of Zypan® 

The benefits of taking Zypan® are: 

• Aids macronutrient digestion
• Helps the body maintain balanced pH levels throughout the GI tract
• Facilitates nutrient absorption
• Includes stearic acid to coat the pancreatin, making sure it is absorbed in the correct part of the digestive tract for optimum effectiveness
• Supports protein digestion
• Helps maintain a healthy digestive environment throughout the GI tract

Standard Process Zypan® Ingredients

Each Serving Size (2 Tablets) of Standard Process Zypan® contains:
Proprietary Blend 595 mg: Betaine hydrochloride, bovine pancreas Cytosol™ extract, pepsin (1:10,000), pancreatin (3x), stearic acid (vegetable source), ammonium chloride, bovine spleen, and ovine spleen.

Other Ingredients: Cellulose and calcium stearate.

Zypan® vs. Zymex®  II 

Standard Process offers a range of supplements for digestive enzyme support. The two most popular are Zypan® and Zymex®  II–but what’s the difference between these two supplements and which one is the best for your needs? 

There are several differences between Zypan® and Zymex®  II. While both supplements include amylase and lipase to support the digestion of carbohydrates and fats and support a base level of protein digestion, only Zypan® contains pepsin and protease for targeted protein breakdown. 

Zymex®  II, however, contains cellulase, a class of enzymes that breaks down the cellulose found in the walls of plant cells. This means Zymex®  II is formulated for better fiber digestion, whereas Zypan® is designed to help the body break down proteins. 

Another key difference between Zypan® and Zymex®  II is the inclusion of pancreatin and betaine hydrochloride. Zypan® includes these compounds to help the body maintain proper pH throughout the GI tract. 

However, in individuals who are acid-sensitive, betaine hydrochloride and pancreatin may be an issue, particularly if you have a history of peptic ulcers, gastritis, or heartburn. Zymex®  II is formulated without betaine hydrochloride and pancreatin, making it appropriate for acid-sensitive individuals. 

Finally, Zypan® includes several ingredients derived from animals, including bovine pancreas, bovine spleen, and ovine spleen. Zymex®  II does not contain these ingredients and is vegetarian-friendly. 

Where to buy Standard Process Zypan®

Interested in trying Standard Process Zypan® for yourself? We sell this supplement in our shop. Zypan® is available in 90 tablet and 330 tablet sizes. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are common side effects of Zypan®? 

Common side effects of Zypan® include: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, headache, constipation, bloating, and gas. 

Is Standard Process Zypan® safe for  pregnant women?

Standard Process Zypan® is not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing. 

Is Zypan® gluten-free?

Yes, Standard Process Zypan® is gluten-free.

Is Zypan® grain-free?

Yes, Zypan® is grain-free.

Is Zypan® dairy-free?

Yes, Zypan® is dairy-free. 

Does Zypan® contain soy? 

No, Standard Process Zypan® does not contain soy. 

Is Zypan® vegan?

Standard Process Zypan® contains animal-based ingredients including bovine spleen and ovine spleen. Zypan® is not vegan.