Re: Enzymes/Calculating Cost Comparisons

[Guest guest]

>>A less expensive way would be nice too! lol

> ANy suggestions from old hands at this?

Even if you are interested in other products, this may give you some

idea of how to calculate the actual costs of what you are

considering. .

---------------------------

COST COMPARISONS:

I worked out how much the cost per capsule was for each product.

First, EnzymAid Complete comes as $36/60 grams with 1/4 teaspoon = 1

gram. I wanted to determine how these compared by volume or amount.

The bottle says to use 1/4 teaspoon/meal as a " serving. " There are 60

servings per bottle. I opened capsules of all the other products into

a measuring spoon. The other capsules all equalled about 1/8

teaspoon. Then I tried packing as much Complete into one of those

capsules as possible, then emptied the contents into the measuring

spoon. Did this several times. It equalled about 1/8 teaspoon. So,

the 1/4 teaspoon of Complete recommended equals two capsules of

anything else. Or one capsule of anything else = 1/8 teaspoon of

Complete powder. Or, one bottle of Complete = 120 capsules.

I am not sure it IS cheaper, actually more expensive, because the

dosage listed for Complete is 2 capsules (1/4 teaspoon, 1 capsule =

1/8 teaspoon) and the enzyme activities listed on the label are for 2

capsules (not one). So one capsules worth is half of the listed

dosage. Zyme Prime and Pep's dosages and listings are for 1 capsule.

At $39 for 120 capsules (but only 60 doses, ) vs $41 for 90 capsules

(and 90 doses); that comes out to $0.65 per dose for Complete and

$0.45 per dose for Pep and ZP combined (if you gave two capsules for

a complete spectrum of foods).

Consumers need to always compare the dose size with the

ingredient/activity units. This is a strategy to make it look like

you are getting a lot of enzyme activity per serving, however the

serving size is more than one capsule. So if you want to get the

activity listed on the label you need to take more than one capsule

or equivalent. I noticed this with Absorbaid as well (2 capsule = 1

serving). I have also made this error with other supplements,

thinking the amount of product you get per capsule or tablet was what

was listed on the label, and then at home I would find out that you

needed to take 2, 3 or more caps to get the listed amount.

Also note how many capsules per bottle. Usually for enzymes, it is in

increments of 60, 90, or 120. The Vital Zyme Forte by Klaire has 120

caps per bottle which I didn't notice at first.

Now I calculated the cost/capsule, all costs are in cents/capsule

with near dollars being rounded up and shipping not included:

24.4 Peptizyde ($22/90 capsules)

21.1 Zyme Prime ($19/90 capsules)

22.0 SerenAid* ($44/180 capsules with 10% off)

17.3 Vital-Zyme Forte* ($23/120 capsules with 10%)

25.0 Forte analog ($15/60 capsules)

27.8 EnzymAid ($25/90 capsules)

27.8 EnzymAid Companion* $35/90 capsules)

30.0 EnzymAid Complete ($36/120 capsules; $36/60 grams with 1/4

teaspoon = 1 gram. 1/8 teaspoon = 1 capsule)

*I used the cost for the Klaire products from the vitallifevitamins

site using the regular discounted price plus the added 10% off

offered for the enzyme board - thus looking at the lowest price

available. These would be slightly higher otherwise. The Vital-Zyme

Forte is the all-purpose general enzyme product by Klaire. I do not

have and of the Companion but calculated costs.)

Now compare possible combinations:

If you want a complete enzyme program for all foods,

from Houstons:

24.4 Peptizyde

21.1 Zyme Prime

----

45.5 cents total using 2 capsules

from Klaire Labs:

22.0 SerenAid*

17.3 Vital-Zyme Forte*

----

39.3 cents total using 2 capsules

from Kirkmans:

30.0 EzymAid Complete per one capsule or 1/8 teaspoon

60.0 cents total using 2 capsules (or 1/4 teaspoon)

OR

25.0 Forte analog

27.8 EnzymAid

27.8 EnzymAid Companion*

---

80.6 cents total using 3 capsules

or to get 2/3 of this to equal 2 capsules

53.7 cents total using 2 capsules

Enzyme products can be mixed and matched, so you do not have to buy

everything from one company. All products use a very high standard of

manufacturing methods and quality control. All products use quality

ingredients, including sulfite-free papain. All enzymes are

considered very safe and have been used over time, with the exception

of the DPP IV Forte analog (no data available yet). The Klaire Lab

products are in gelatin capsules, although they said they will be

switching to veggie caps (please check your particular supplier). All

others are in veggie capsules.

Based on performance (results of testing available upon request, and

previous comments by parents), here are some possible rough

equivalents. Your actual results may vary:

1 Peptizyde = 2 Complete or 1/4 teaspoons of powder

24.4 cents vs 60 cents

- this is if you want to achieve equal activity for casein/gluten,

not for general food digestion. Using 1/8 teaspoon powder (1 capsule)

of Complete did not perform as well as one Peptizyde, however 2

capsules of Complete would be equivalent to 1 Peptizyde, with the

additional ability to break down other foods.

1 Peptizyde + 1 Zyme Prime = 2 capsules of Complete (1/4 teaspoon)

45.5 cents vs 60 cents

- this is if you want complete overall digestion including casein and

gluten. Performance comparisons were relatively equal.

1 Peptizyde = 2 SerenAid

24.4 cents vs 44 cents for casein/gluten only. Performance

comparisons were relatively equal, Peptizyde only slightly better.

1 Peptizyde = at least 4 DPP IV Forte analog (my guess here)

24.4 cents vs $1.00 for casein breakdown only.

2 capsules (or 1/4 teaspoon) of Complete compared to Forte analog +

EnzymAid + EnzymAid Companion

60.0 cents vs 80.6

- this is a rough comparison because I do not have any more EnzymAid

or any Companion at all, so I don't know if mixing the later three

would actually equal the performance of just Complete by itself. If

you gave 3/8 teaspoon (3 capsules) of Complete, then the quantity

would be even and, realistically, you wouldn't be mixing the other

three and then given 2/3 the dose. The costs would now be 90 cents

for Complete vs 80.6 cents for the other three.

1 Vital Zyme Forte = 1 Zyme Prime = 1 Companion (I'm guessing here) =

21.1 cents vs 17.3 cents vs 27.8 cents

Performance comparisons were relatively equal. Carbo from EnzyMedica

probably goes here as well. Carbo is $25/60 capsules in my area =

41.7 cents per capsule - it has high activity though, however that

is another post

Price varies considerably. Calculate how much you will be spending

for your family by food type and frequency of dose to meet your

personal goals. I have broken them out by cost/capsule, hopefully

this will help you multiply out what you will be spending on a

regular basis.

You will also need to factor in individual responses. You may find

you or your child reacts strongly to one formulation, but not

another. Nothing in the lab, whether kitchen testing or real

laboratory, can accurately predict how an individual will respond.