Quick answer

LactMed says pancreatic enzymes are not appreciably absorbed from a mother's gut, so they should not reach the infant, and that expert opinion considers prescription pancrelipase acceptable during breastfeeding. For papaya enzymes it says no data exist, and NCCIH says little is known about bromelain. Ask your doctor before using a blend.^1,2,3

Key facts

LactMed says pancreatic enzymes are not appreciably absorbed from the mother's digestive tract, so they should not reach the infant.¹
LactMed says expert opinion considers the prescription enzyme pancrelipase acceptable during breastfeeding.¹
LactMed says no data exist on papaya components in breast milk or on papaya's safety for nursing mothers or infants.²
NCCIH says little is known about whether bromelain is safe during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.³
The pancrelipase label says there are no data on its presence in human or animal milk and that it is minimally absorbed.⁴

What does LactMed say about enzymes in breast milk?

LactMed is the National Institutes of Health database on medicines and supplements during breastfeeding, and it has entries for pancrelipase and for papaya, a source of enzymes. For pancrelipase, the pancreatic enzyme mix sold as a prescription medicine, it says the enzymes are not appreciably absorbed from the mother's gut and so should not reach the infant, and it records that expert opinion considers use during breastfeeding acceptable.¹

The drug's own label agrees on the first point. It says there are no data on its presence in human or animal milk and that maternal use is not expected to expose the infant to a relevant amount, and it asks the mother and doctor to weigh the benefits of breastfeeding against her clinical need for the medicine.⁴

Both statements concern a prescription medicine taken for a diagnosed condition. They are the nearest official words on enzymes and nursing, and they are not a statement about supplement blends.^1,4

What do official sources say about papaya and pineapple enzymes?

For papaya, which supplies the enzymes papain and chymopapain before it ripens, LactMed says no data exist on the excretion of any component into breast milk or on safety for nursing mothers or infants. It also records that allergic reactions to papaya, including asthma and skin rashes, are not uncommon, with cross-reactions to latex and kiwi.²

For bromelain, the pineapple enzyme, NCCIH says little is known about whether it is safe to use while breastfeeding. A 2023 review of 54 articles on bromelain listed flatulence, nausea and headache as adverse events of oral use and no major health risks, but it did not look at nursing mothers or their babies.^3,5

Bromelain is a group of protein-cutting enzymes from the stem and fruit of the pineapple plant. Papain and chymopapain come from unripe papaya.^3,6

What is missing?

No source we read covers microbial proteases, lipase supplements or lactase tablets in breastfeeding, and these are common in blends.
No source reports a measurement of any supplement enzyme in breast milk.
None of the sources tests a whole supplement blend, so the safety of the mixture is unknown even where one ingredient has an entry.

Who should ask their doctor first while breastfeeding?

Any nursing parent thinking of an enzyme supplement should ask their doctor, because official sources cover only a few of the enzymes in a blend.
A nursing parent with a latex allergy, or a past reaction to papaya, pineapple or kiwi, should ask their doctor before using a blend that contains papain or bromelain.²
A nursing parent with ongoing pain, weight loss, fatty stools or blood in the stool should ask their doctor for a diagnosis.
A nursing parent who takes prescription medicines can ask their pharmacist whether an enzyme product matters.

Questions people ask

Are digestive enzymes safe while breastfeeding?

LactMed says pancreatic enzymes are not appreciably absorbed, but that covers a prescription enzyme and not supplement blends. Ask your doctor before using one.¹

Can you take digestive enzymes while breastfeeding if they contain papaya?

LactMed says no data exist on papaya components in breast milk or on safety for nursing mothers or infants, and that papaya allergy is not uncommon. Ask your doctor.²

Are digestive enzymes for breastfeeding moms covered by any official source?

Only a few single enzymes are: LactMed covers papaya and pancrelipase, and NCCIH covers bromelain. No source covers a typical blend.^1,2,3

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Sources

This page is information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.