Does alpha-galactosidase reduce gas from beans and vegetables?
Trial results differ by setting. A two-week trial in children reported benefit for some gas-related outcomes; an acute crossover trial in adults with IBS did not find superiority to placebo. These results do not establish a universal benefit.
Quick answer
Best suited for
- Occasional gas from specific foods like beans, lentils, and cruciferous vegetables containing raffinose-family oligosaccharides.
- Readers comparing limited trial findings with a particular product label; trial results are not a guarantee for an individual or a different formulation.
It is unlikely to help with
- A treatment for IBS itself — a recent randomized crossover trial in IBS patients found it was not superior to placebo.
- A guaranteed fix — some controlled trials support a benefit, but the evidence is inconsistent, not uniformly positive.
What to compare on the label
- Activity unit — Look for GalU (Galactosidase Unit) at the labeled serving size.
- Trigger foods — Check the specific food substrate, symptom and study population; a biochemical match alone does not establish benefit for general bloating.
Where to find it
Microbiome Plus+ — Pro Digestive Enzyme Blend
Microbiome Plus+ Pro Digestive Enzyme Blend is a multi-ingredient capsule rather than an alpha-galactosidase-only product. Its current manufacturer label (serving size: one veggie capsule) lists alpha-galactosidase at 300 GALU, together with a protease and Lactobacillus blend, bromelain, papain, fungal lipase and lactase. The three Lactobacillus species are probiotic bacteria, not enzymes. GALU is a manufacturer-declared activity unit, and we have not verified that it is comparable across brands. The trials on this page did not test this combination product, and the mixed evidence described here applies. This is label information, not our laboratory testing. It is not a substitute for prescription pancreatic enzyme therapy; check the manufacturer's page for current directions, cautions and price.
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Also available on Amazon
Beano (Prestige Consumer Healthcare) — Beano Digestive Enzyme Tablets, Original Strength
The manufacturer’s label lists alpha-galactosidase and product warnings. It is a retail example, not the specific formulation tested in every study cited above and not proof of benefit for IBS. Pregnancy/nursing, galactosemia and sensitivity precautions should be checked on the current label.
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What the trials show
Di Nardo et al. studied 52 children aged 4–17 for two weeks. Global distress, days with severe bloating and the proportion with flatulence improved relative to placebo, but abdominal distension, spasms and follow-up overall assessment did not show clear between-group benefit.
Böhn et al. studied 20 adults with IBS in an acute placebo-controlled crossover experiment. Alpha-galactosidase was not superior to placebo for post-meal symptoms or breath hydrogen/methane under that protocol; this is not proof about every population, meal composition or longer treatment.
The trials differ in age, population, design, meals and duration. This comparison does not establish a routine treatment for IBS or equivalent effects for every retail formulation.
- If gas or bloating is persistent, severe, or part of a broader pattern that could be IBS or another condition, that's a question for a clinician, not just an enzyme trial.
- Product warnings matter: Beano advises a doctor consultation in pregnancy/nursing and for galactosemia, and stopping use if a rare sensitivity occurs. A small trial without reported adverse events does not prove universal safety.
Sources: Di Nardo et al., "Efficacy and tolerability of α-galactosidase in treating gas-related symptoms in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial" — PubMed 24063420; Böhn et al., "Acute effects of the enzyme α-galactosidase on gastrointestinal symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome patients" — PubMed 33619835; supported by an unrestricted Oy Verman grant and public/foundation grants; company supplied randomization, otherwise not planning or conduct; author disclosures in the original; Beano — current product directions, ingredients and warnings; not an efficacy trial. Last reviewed: July 28, 2026.