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Rennin

Also known as: Chymosin, Calf rennet, Rennin

Overview

Rennin, also known as chymosin, is a proteolytic enzyme primarily found in the stomachs of young ruminant mammals, particularly calves. It is naturally secreted by the gastric mucosa and plays a crucial role in milk digestion by coagulating milk proteins, specifically casein. This coagulation process facilitates the breakdown and absorption of milk nutrients. Industrially, rennin is widely used in cheese production for its milk-clotting properties. As a dietary supplement, rennin is sometimes considered for digestive support, though robust clinical evidence for its efficacy in humans is lacking. It is critical to distinguish rennin from renin, an entirely different enzyme involved in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) that regulates blood pressure; research on renin is extensive, but it does not pertain to rennin as a supplement.

Benefits

There is no robust clinical evidence from systematic reviews or randomized controlled trials (RCTs) supporting the use of rennin supplementation for human health benefits. Its primary established use is industrial, specifically in cheese making, where it acts as a milk coagulant. While rennin's physiological role is in milk digestion in infant mammals, no clear clinical supplementation benefits have been demonstrated in adults. The available scientific literature does not provide high-quality evidence to support claims of digestive improvement or any other health advantages from rennin supplementation in humans.

How it works

Rennin functions as a protease enzyme with a specific action on milk proteins. Its primary mechanism involves the cleavage of κ-casein, a protein found in milk. This enzymatic action destabilizes the casein micelles, leading to the coagulation of milk and the formation of curds. This process is essential for efficient milk digestion in the stomach of young mammals. Rennin's activity is confined to protein hydrolysis, specifically casein, and it does not interact with the renin-angiotensin system or influence blood pressure regulation, which is the domain of the distinct enzyme, renin.

Side effects

Rennin is generally regarded as safe when used in food production, particularly in cheese making. However, due to the lack of clinical studies and widespread use as a dietary supplement, there is limited information regarding potential side effects or adverse reactions in humans when consumed as a supplement. No significant adverse effects, drug interactions, or contraindications have been formally documented in a supplementation context. This absence of reported side effects is likely attributable to the limited clinical use and research rather than confirmed safety in human supplementation. Individuals with known allergies to milk proteins or enzymes should exercise caution.

Dosage

There are no established dosing guidelines for rennin as a dietary supplement due to the lack of clinical data and human studies. The doses used in industrial applications, such as cheese production, vary widely depending on the specific manufacturing protocols and are not relevant to human supplementation. Without scientific evidence from clinical trials, any recommended dosage for human consumption would be speculative and unsupported. Therefore, individuals should be aware that there is no evidence-based recommendation for rennin dosage for any health purpose.

FAQs

Is rennin the same as renin?

No, rennin and renin are distinct enzymes. Rennin is a milk-clotting enzyme, while renin is involved in blood pressure regulation within the renin-angiotensin system.

What are the benefits of rennin supplementation?

There is no robust clinical evidence from high-quality studies to support any health benefits of rennin supplementation in humans. Its primary use is in cheese production.

Is rennin safe to take as a supplement?

While generally considered safe in food production, there's insufficient data on rennin's safety as a human supplement due to a lack of clinical research. No specific side effects are documented.

Can rennin help with digestion?

While rennin aids milk digestion in infant mammals, there's no clinical evidence to suggest it provides significant digestive benefits for adults as a supplement.

Research Sources

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8283791/ – This source discusses the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and its role in cardiovascular disease, particularly in chronic kidney disease patients. It is a systematic review focusing on RAAS blockers and their effects, not on the enzyme rennin (chymosin) as a supplement.
https://academic.oup.com/ijpp/article/31/Supplement_2/ii33/7453081 – This article is a meta-analysis examining the effects of potassium on plasma aldosterone and renin activity. It contributes to the understanding of the renin-angiotensin system and its regulation, but it does not provide information on the enzyme rennin or its use as a supplement.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38780173/ – This research focuses on the impact of dietary potassium on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. It is relevant to the enzyme renin and its role in blood pressure regulation, but it does not address rennin (chymosin) or its potential as a dietary supplement.
https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/42/Supplement_1/ehab724.2383/6392932 – This abstract discusses the effects of a specific drug on the renin-angiotensin system. It is another example of research pertaining to the enzyme renin and its pharmacological modulation, which is distinct from the enzyme rennin used in milk coagulation and is not relevant to rennin supplementation.