Alpha-Galactosidase
Also called α-galactosidase, Beano, alpha-D-galactoside galactohydrolase, bean enzyme, Nogasin.
Best grade C across 7 graded outcomes Other Last checked
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The short answer
From 9 sourcesAlpha-galactosidase, sold as Beano, is an enzyme used with bean-rich meals to cut gas, and Health Canada accepts that use. Small crossover trials found less flatulence after beans, and a trial in 52 children found less bloating. A 12-week trial in 125 people with IBS found no clear benefit and more dropouts on the enzyme.
Quick pick
From a partner brand · paid link
Beano Food Enzyme Tablets Extra Strength, 100 Tablets
from HerbsPro
Label: 2 tablets: 600 GALU alpha-galactosidase enzyme.
Best for regular use: $16.41 on subscription vs $18.23 one-time (checked Oct 15, 2026).
Every graded outcome on this page
7 rows · line = participants- CGrade CGas-related symptoms in childrenGasn 52
- DGrade DSymptoms from high-GOS foods in IBSIBSn 31
- DGrade DFlatulence after a bean chili mealGasn 19
- DGrade DPost-meal blood glucose and appetite after a lentil mealBlood sugarn 12
- DGrade DGas production and flatulence after a bean mealGasn 8
- ∅No effectIBS symptom severity and quality of lifeIBSn 125
- ∅No effectAfter-meal symptoms in IBSIBSn 20
- 4 more graded outcomes, in the evidence chapter
Key facts
- What it is
- Enzyme from Aspergillus niger that splits the oligosaccharides in beans, vegetables and whole grains15
- Health Canada use
- Helps reduce gas or flatulence after a meal rich in oligosaccharides, at 260 to 3,000 GalU a day with the first bite of food1
- Best trial results
- Less flatulence after bean meals (8 and 19 volunteers); less distress and bloating in 52 children over 2 weeks234
- IBS
- No routine benefit in 125 people with IBS over 12 weeks; helped only GOS-sensitive patients in a small crossover57
- Diabetes medicine
- Partly blunted the glucose-lowering effect of acarbose in a trial8
What it is
Alpha-galactosidase is a digestive enzyme, made from the mould Aspergillus niger, that breaks down gas-forming sugars in beans and vegetables.
How it works
EstablishedForms
Form
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tablets, capsules or drops | Varies1Not applicable (enzyme; dosed by activity in GalU) | Acts on food sugars in the gut; our sources give no absorption data.1 | Health Canada: stop use if hypersensitivity or allergy occurs. In the 12-week IBS trial more people stopped the enzyme than placebo, often for abdominal pain or diarrhoea; no adverse events were reported in the 2-week children's trial.154 | Gas after bean meals (300 to 1,200 GalU), gas symptoms in children, IBS |
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Trial map
7 graded outcomes, largest study first7 graded outcomes: 4 improved, 3 no effect. The largest, a 2016 randomized trial of 125 people on IBS symptom severity and quality of life, found no effect.
1IBS symptom severity and quality of life
No effect · No-effect grade · RCT, 125 people, 2016
125 people with IBS and bloating or flatulence
Dose, result and source| Outcome | Found | People | Study | Who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBS symptom severity and quality of life | No effect | 125 | No-effect grade · RCT, 2016 | 125 people with IBS and bloating or flatulence |
| Gas-related symptoms in children | Improved | 52 | Grade C · RCT, 2013 | Children aged 4 to 17 with chronic or recurrent gas-related symptoms (27 enzyme, 25 placebo) |
| Symptoms from high-GOS foods in IBS | Improved | 31 | Grade D · Crossover RCT, 2018 | 31 hydrogen-producing IBS patients; 21 were GOS-sensitive |
| After-meal symptoms in IBS | No effect | 20 | No-effect grade · Crossover RCT, 2021 | 20 adults with IBS (19 women) |
| Flatulence after a bean chili meal | Improved | 19 | Grade D · Crossover RCT, 1994 | 19 volunteers |
| Post-meal blood glucose and appetite after a lentil meal | No effect | 12 | Grade D · Crossover RCT, 2014 | Healthy adults (US) |
| Gas production and flatulence after a bean meal | Improved | 8 | Grade D · RCT, 2007 | Healthy volunteers |
Every graded row
7 rowsShowing 7 of 7 outcomes. Human trials only.
CGrade CGas-related symptoms in childrenGasLess distress and bloatingRCT
n 52 · 2013
Improved Global distress fell more than with placebo (p = 0.02), with fewer days of moderate to severe bloating (p = 0.03) and fewer children with flatulence (p = 0.02); abdominal spasms and distension did not differ. No adverse events were reported.
- Design
- RCT, n = 52, 2013
- Population
- Children aged 4 to 17 with chronic or recurrent gas-related symptoms (27 enzyme, 25 placebo)
- Form
- Alpha-galactosidase drops or tablets
- Dose
- Dosed by body weight (amount not stated in the abstract)
- Duration
- 2 weeks
- Source
- Reference 4 · PubMed 24063420 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DSymptoms from high-GOS foods in IBSIBSHelped GOS-sensitive IBS onlyCrossover RCT
n 31 · 2018
Improved In GOS-sensitive patients, the full dose reduced overall symptoms (median 24.5 vs 5.5 mm on a 100 mm scale, p = 0.006) and bloating (20.5 vs 6.5 mm, p = 0.017); breath hydrogen did not differ.
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 31, 2018
- Population
- 31 hydrogen-producing IBS patients; 21 were GOS-sensitive
- Form
- Alpha-galactosidase
- Dose
- 300 GALU (full dose) or 150 GALU with high-GOS meals (placebo: glucose)
- Duration
- 3-day high-GOS diet per arm
- Source
- Reference 7 · PubMed 28809383 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DFlatulence after a bean chili mealGasFewer flatulence eventsCrossover RCT
n 19 · 1994
Improved Flatulence events per hour were lower than placebo over 6 hours (p = .016), significant at hour 5 only; bloating and pain did not differ.
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 19, 1994
- Population
- 19 volunteers
- Form
- Beano liquid alpha-galactosidase
- Dose
- 8 drops with the meal (vs placebo)
- Duration
- Two test meals one week apart, 6-hour follow-up
- Source
- Reference 2 · PubMed 7964541 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DPost-meal blood glucose and appetite after a lentil mealBlood sugarNo effectCrossover RCT
n 12 · 2014
No effect The enzyme had no main effect on post-meal glucose or appetite after whole-lentil, blended-lentil or no-lentil breakfasts; blending the lentils, not the enzyme, raised appetite slightly.
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 12, 2014
- Population
- Healthy adults (US)
- Form
- Alpha-galactosidase capsules vs placebo capsules
- Dose
- 3 capsules with the meal (strength not stated in the abstract)
- Duration
- Single test breakfasts, 3- to 5-day washouts
- Source
- Reference 9 · PubMed 25411033 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DGas production and flatulence after a bean mealGasLess gas and flatulenceRCT
n 8 · 2007
Improved 1,200 GalU significantly reduced breath hydrogen and the severity of flatulence; both 300 and 1,200 GalU reduced the total symptom score.
- Design
- RCT, n = 8, 2007
- Population
- Healthy volunteers
- Form
- Alpha-galactosidase
- Dose
- 300 or 1,200 GalU with a meal of 420 g cooked beans (vs placebo)
- Duration
- Single test meals, 8-hour follow-up
- Source
- Reference 3 · PubMed 17151807 (opens PubMed)
∅No effectIBS symptom severity and quality of lifeIBSNo routine benefit; more dropoutsRCT
n 125 · 2016
No effect Only a trend toward lower IBS symptom scores, and quality of life did not differ. More people withdrew on the enzyme (18 vs 7, p = 0.016), more often citing abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
- Design
- RCT, n = 125, 2016
- Population
- 125 people with IBS and bloating or flatulence
- Form
- Alpha-galactosidase
- Dose
- With meals (amount not stated in the abstract)
- Duration
- 12 weeks plus 4-week follow-up
- Source
- Reference 5 · PubMed 26133538 (opens PubMed)
∅No effectAfter-meal symptoms in IBSIBSNo better than placeboCrossover RCT
n 20 · 2021
No effect Symptom ratings, breath hydrogen and methane did not differ between enzyme and placebo days.
- Design
- Crossover RCT, n = 20, 2021
- Population
- 20 adults with IBS (19 women)
- Form
- Alpha-galactosidase capsules (Nogasin)
- Dose
- 1,200 GalU per meal with three high-oligosaccharide meals (vs placebo)
- Duration
- Single test days
- Source
- Reference 6 · PubMed 33619835 (opens PubMed)
What the numbers add up to
Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.
Helps gas after beans, not IBS overall
A caveat with acarbose
Acarbose works by leaving carbohydrate undigested; adding the enzyme eased the gas but also took away some of acarbose's glucose-lowering effect.8
Studied doses
Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.
Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.
Doses studied in human trials
Interactions and safety
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
What Alpha-Galactosidase meets
1 cited rowMedicines 1
Supplements and foods 0
No supplement rows in our sources.
- Measured in a human study
Choose a medicine or supplement above to read its cited rows here.
Also cited:
Acarbose (diabetes medicine)
RCTMeasured in a human study
Acarbose (diabetes medicine): In a crossover trial in 37 people with type 2 diabetes, adding Beano to acarbose reduced flatulence, but post-meal glucose was higher than with acarbose alone, so it may weaken acarbose's effect. Health Canada advises asking a health care practitioner before use if you have diabetes.
Source 8, Clin Ther (1998); Source 1, Health Canada, Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (2025)
Interactions
1 agent| Agent | What the source says | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Medicines1 | ||
| Acarbose (diabetes medicine) | In a crossover trial in 37 people with type 2 diabetes, adding Beano to acarbose reduced flatulence, but post-meal glucose was higher than with acarbose alone, so it may weaken acarbose's effect. Health Canada advises asking a health care practitioner before use if you have diabetes.81 | RCT |
Check with what you take
Kept on this device onlyAdd what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Alpha-Galactosidase and your picks, and between your picks.
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Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Alpha-Galactosidase.
Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.
Who should be careful
4 groups- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Health Canada: ask a health care practitioner before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.1
- Diabetes
- Health Canada: ask a health care practitioner before use if you have diabetes.1
- Allergy
- Health Canada: stop use if hypersensitivity or allergy occurs.1
- Prolonged use or ongoing symptoms
- Health Canada's monograph covers adults 18 and older, advises asking a practitioner for prolonged use, and if symptoms persist or worsen.1
Where to buy Alpha-Galactosidase
Products from brands we partner with that contain Alpha-Galactosidase. Check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
Alpha-Galactosidase products from partner brands
1 product Paid links · we earn a commission- Quick pickHerbsProBeano Food Enzyme Tablets Extra Strength, 100 Tablets
2 tablets: 600 GALU alpha-galactosidase enzyme; other ingredients include mannitol and potato starch
$18.23one-time$16.41subscribeChecked Oct 15, 2026
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.
Common questions
8 answersDoes Beano work?
Does alpha-galactosidase help IBS?
Can children use alpha-galactosidase?
Can people with diabetes use Beano?
Does alpha-galactosidase raise blood sugar?
Can alpha-galactosidase be used every day?
What are the side effects of alpha-galactosidase?
When is Beano used?
Health Canada directions are to use it with the first bite of food or a meal.1
Sources
9 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited on this page
9 sources- 1Alpha-Galactosidase (Natural Health Product monograph, January 10, 2025)Guideline Health Canada, Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate, 2025 · webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca
- 2Does Beano prevent gas? A double-blind crossover study of oral alpha-galactosidase to treat dietary oligosaccharide intolerance.Crossover RCT J Fam Pract, 1994 · PMID 7964541
- 3The effect of oral alpha-galactosidase on intestinal gas production and gas-related symptoms.RCT Dig Dis Sci, 2007 · PMID 17151807
- 4Efficacy and tolerability of α-galactosidase in treating gas-related symptoms in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial.RCT BMC Gastroenterol, 2013 · PMID 24063420
- 5Does oral α-galactosidase relieve irritable bowel symptoms?RCT Scand J Gastroenterol, 2016 · PMID 26133538
- 6A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover pilot study: Acute effects of the enzyme α-galactosidase on gastrointestinal symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome patients.Crossover RCT Neurogastroenterol Motil, 2021 · PMID 33619835
- 7Increasing Symptoms in Irritable Bowel Symptoms With Ingestion of Galacto-Oligosaccharides Are Mitigated by α-Galactosidase Treatment.Crossover RCT Am J Gastroenterol, 2018 · PMID 28809383
- 8Effects of beano on the tolerability and pharmacodynamics of acarbose.Crossover RCT Clin Ther, 1998 · PMID 9663365
- 9A blended- rather than whole-lentil meal with or without α-galactosidase mildly increases healthy adults' appetite but not their glycemic response.Crossover RCT J Nutr, 2014 · PMID 25411033
What changed
Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.
Change log
2 entries| Date | Change | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| evidence, FAQ, questions | Added a graded row for post-meal glucose and appetite (2014 lentil crossover, no effect), three FAQ items (side effects; blood sugar and acarbose; prolonged use), three page questions and the gut goal-hub link. PubMed searched for alpha-galactosidase meta-analyses and RCTs 2022–2026 (excluding Fabry enzyme therapy): none newer than the 2021 crossover. Interactions re-checked: no LiverTox or LactMed entry exists and the Health Canada monograph adds none beyond diabetes; the acarbose row stands. Galactosemia cautions could not be sourced from an allowed source and were not added. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z audit against docs/supplements/AUDIT-STANDARD.md |
| all | Initial editorial evidence review. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title, year, journal; none retracted) and each cited abstract read; numbers taken from the abstracts (full text used only where noted for participant counts, duration or funding). Funding: none of the trial abstracts names a funder (disclosed as not stated); the children's trial authors declare no competing interests. Safety and use from Health Canada's Alpha-Galactosidase monograph (January 10, 2025). Where to buy: Beano Extra Strength 100 tablets (label and subscription price checked 2026-10-15). | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page |
Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia. Educational information only; it is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements about supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.