What are Nova enzymes used for?

December 30, 2025 •

4 min read

With an estimated 65% of the global population experiencing some form of lactose malabsorption, supplements using Nova enzymes, such as lactase, offer a common solution. This article clarifies what Nova enzymes are used for across several distinct contexts, including dietary supplements, biopharmaceuticals, and fundamental genetic mechanisms.

Quick Summary

This article explores the diverse applications of entities known as Nova enzymes, which include dietary supplements for digestion, pharmaceutical biotherapies for genetic disorders, and crucial genetic splicing factors in neurology.

Key Points

Digestive Supplements: Nova Nutritions provides lactase enzymes for individuals with lactose intolerance to aid in the digestion of dairy products.
Anti-Inflammatory Action: Tablets with proteolytic enzymes bromelain and papain are used to assist protein digestion and reduce systemic inflammation and swelling.
Genetic Splicing Factors: In neurology, NOVA (Neuro-Oncological Ventral Antigen) proteins are crucial RNA-binding proteins that regulate gene expression through alternative splicing.
Neurological Functions: NOVA proteins play critical roles in synapse function, axon guidance, and are implicated in neurological disorders like POMA and epilepsy.
Biopharmaceutical Development: The former company Novazyme Pharmaceuticals developed enzyme replacement therapies for genetic disorders such as Pompe's disease.
Broader Context: Beyond health, some 'Nova' enzyme products exist for industrial or agricultural uses, such as feed additives for livestock.

The term "Nova enzymes" is not monolithic, referring to several distinct products and biological entities. A consumer searching for this term may find dietary supplements designed to aid digestion, while a medical professional might refer to biopharmaceuticals or complex genetic factors involved in neural development. Understanding the context is essential to defining the specific uses for each type.

Digestive Health: Nova Nutritions Lactase Enzymes

One of the most common consumer-facing products is Nova Nutritions Lactase Enzyme, which is a dietary supplement designed to assist individuals with lactose intolerance. Lactose is a sugar found in milk and dairy products, and lactose intolerance occurs when the body produces insufficient amounts of the natural lactase enzyme to break it down. By supplementing with lactase, individuals can consume dairy without experiencing common symptoms such as bloating, gas, cramping, and diarrhea.

How Lactase Supplements Work

Breaks Down Lactose: The lactase enzyme works by breaking down the complex lactose sugar into simpler, more easily digestible sugars: glucose and galactose.
Prevents Digestive Discomfort: By digesting the lactose before it can cause problems in the large intestine, the supplement prevents the gas and bloating associated with fermentation.
Maximizes Nutrient Intake: Using these supplements allows individuals to continue consuming dairy products, ensuring they receive essential nutrients like calcium, Vitamin D, and protein that might otherwise be avoided.

Anti-Inflammatory Support: Nova's Bromelain and Papain Tablets

Another line of consumer products includes Nova Enzymes Tablets featuring bromelain and papain. These are proteolytic enzymes, meaning they break down proteins. Sourced naturally from pineapple (bromelain) and papaya (papain), these enzymes are used for their digestive and systemic anti-inflammatory properties.

Applications for Bromelain and Papain

Aids Protein Digestion: After a high-protein meal, these enzymes can assist the body in breaking down proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids, easing indigestion and bloating.
Reduces Inflammation: Systemically, when taken on an empty stomach, bromelain and papain can act as anti-inflammatory agents throughout the body. They are traditionally used to alleviate swelling and pain associated with injuries, arthritis, and post-surgical recovery.
Promotes Healing: These enzymes are also known to support wound healing and tissue repair.

Genetic Regulation in Neurology and Disease: The NOVA Protein Family

In a completely different context, NOVA (Neuro-Oncological Ventral Antigen) refers to a family of RNA-binding proteins (NOVA1 and NOVA2) critical for regulating gene expression in the nervous system. They achieve this by controlling alternative splicing, a process that allows a single gene to code for multiple proteins.

The Role of NOVA Proteins in the Brain

Neuronal Development: NOVAs regulate the splicing of transcripts that are crucial for neuronal functions, including synapse formation, axon guidance, and the function of receptors and ion channels. For instance, NOVA2 is essential for normal axon pathfinding during brain development.
Neurological Disorders: Dysfunctional NOVA proteins have been linked to a number of neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. NOVA was first identified as a target in an autoimmune disorder called paraneoplastic opsoclonus-myoclonus ataxia (POMA). Furthermore, they have been implicated in conditions such as epilepsy and certain neurodegenerative disorders.
Cancer and Apoptosis: The functions of NOVA proteins extend beyond the nervous system. They are involved in regulating cell proliferation and survival in various cancers and play a role in apoptosis (programmed cell death).

Pharmaceutical Applications: Novazyme Pharmaceuticals

Historically, the name Novazyme was associated with a pharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for lysosomal storage disorders, such as Pompe's disease. The company was later acquired by Genzyme. Their work centered on creating enhanced-uptake enzyme replacement therapies (ERTs) to treat these rare genetic conditions.

Enzyme Replacement Therapy for Lysosomal Storage Disorders

Addresses Genetic Deficiencies: Lysosomal storage disorders are caused by a genetic deficiency of an enzyme needed to break down certain substances within cells. These substances accumulate over time, leading to severe organ damage and other debilitating symptoms.
Delivers Missing Enzymes: ERT involves intravenously infusing the missing enzyme to address the deficiency. Novazyme focused on enhancing the delivery of these enzymes to the specific cells and tissues that need them.

Comparison of Nova Enzyme Types


Enzyme Type	Context	Source	Primary Use	Example
Lactase	Dietary Supplement	Fungal/Microbial	Aids digestion of dairy products	Nova Nutritions Lactase Enzyme
Bromelain & Papain	Dietary Supplement	Pineapple & Papaya	Supports protein digestion, anti-inflammatory	Nova Enzymes Tablet
NOVA1 & NOVA2 Proteins	Genetic/Neuroscience	Human Genes	Regulate alternative splicing in nervous system	Functions in neuronal development, linked to epilepsy
NZ-1001 (rhHPGAA)	Biopharmaceutical	Recombinant (developed by Novazyme)	Enzyme replacement therapy for Pompe's disease	Orphan drug status granted in 2000
NOVA-MULTIZYME	Animal Feed	Microbial (from Anova JV)	Improves digestion and growth in livestock	Used in cattle feed

Conclusion

In summary, the uses of Nova enzymes are highly varied and context-dependent. The name can refer to a simple, over-the-counter dietary supplement, a complex biological protein governing genetic expression in the brain, or a sophisticated biopharmaceutical used to treat rare diseases. For the consumer, products like Nova Nutritions' lactase or bromelain/papain tablets offer practical solutions for digestive issues and inflammation. For the scientific community, the NOVA proteins represent a key area of research in neuroscience and oncology. For medicine, the legacy of companies like Novazyme highlights the potential of enzyme-based therapies for genetic disorders. The crucial takeaway is that the specific application of a "Nova enzyme" can only be understood by identifying its exact nature and origin.

For more in-depth information on the function of NOVA proteins, a relevant resource can be found on the National Institutes of Health website, such as this article: Alternative Splicing by NOVA Factors: From Gene Expression to Neurological Diseases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nova Nutritions produces dietary supplements like lactase enzymes to aid digestive health. Novazyme was a pharmaceutical company focused on developing biotherapies, specifically enzyme replacement therapies for rare genetic disorders like Pompe's disease, and was acquired by Genzyme.

Specifically referring to Nova Nutritions' lactase enzyme, the supplement works by helping your body break down lactose, the sugar found in dairy products. This helps prevent digestive symptoms like gas, bloating, and diarrhea.

Yes, some consumer tablets marketed as Nova Enzymes contain bromelain and papain. These are plant-based proteolytic enzymes from pineapple and papaya, used to aid protein digestion and reduce inflammation.

In scientific and medical research, NOVA proteins (NOVA1 and NOVA2) are RNA-binding proteins found primarily in the nervous system. They are genetic splicing factors that control which protein variants are produced from a single gene.

NOVA proteins are crucial for regulating the function and development of neurons and synapses. Their dysregulation can contribute to neurological diseases, and they were first identified as targets in an autoimmune neurological disorder.

ERT is a medical treatment that involves administering recombinant enzymes intravenously to address an enzyme deficiency caused by a rare genetic disorder, such as a lysosomal storage disease.

Yes, other products with similar names exist. For example, Nova-MULTIZYME is a veterinary product used to improve digestion and growth rates in cattle feed.

Since 'Nova enzymes' can mean many things, its benefits depend entirely on the specific product. A lactase supplement aids dairy digestion, while a bromelain/papain supplement supports protein breakdown and reduces inflammation. Consult a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement.