This page contains some helpful digestion teaching resources and a list of enzymes for digestion. You may also want to check out our page for Nutritionists and Dietitians.
Page Contents
- List of Digestive Enzymes
- Benefits Of Enzymes
- What Is Lipase
- Lipase Supplements
- What is Amylase?
- Amylase-Digesting Carbohydrates
List Of Digestive Enzymes – Enzyme Supplements – Benefits Of Enzymes
Here you will find a list of digestive enzymes and the benefits of digestive enzymes There are oodles of “Digestive Enzymes Supplements” out there, so which one do you choose! Pay attention to the how you feel after you eat your meals, then make a mental note of what days you feel bloated and have an overall ill feeling. Your body will tell you what foods are causing you to feel unwell, and what digestive enzyme Supplement will benefit you.
The Enzyme Amylase
(aspsergillus orzyne)
Amylase is responsible for the digestion of carbohydrates, amylase is an enzyme that breaks starch down into sugar. Amylase is present in human saliva, where it begins the chemical process of digestion. Foods that contain much starch but little sugar, such as rice and potato, taste slightly sweet as they are chewed because amylase turns some of their starch into sugar in the mouth.
The pancreas also makes amylase (alpha amylase) to break down dietary starch into di- and trisaccharides which are converted by other enzymes to glucose to supply the body with energy.
The Enzyme Betaine (HCl)
(betaine hydrochloride)
Betaine is responsible for the digestion of fats and proteins, betaine hydrochloride (betaine HCI) is an acidic form of betaine, a vitamin-like substance found in grains and other foods. Betaine hydrochloride is recommended as a supplemental source of hydrochloric acid for people who have a deficiency of stomach acid production (hypochlorhydria).
A deficiency of gastric acid secretion increases the likelihood and severity of certain bacterial and parasitic intestinal infections. Some research suggests that people with a wide variety of chronic disorders, such as allergies, asthma, candida albicans and gallstones, and acne do not produce adequate amounts of stomach acid.
The Enzyme Bromelain
(pineapple)
Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme found in raw pineapple and aids in the digestion of protein-rich foods. It is also a vegetarian alternative to animal-sourced enzymes. (Benefits of Bromelain) Bromelain aids digestion by enhancing the effects of the digestive enzymes trypsin and pepin. It can also help to prevent heartburn by ease diarrhea if either is caused by a deficiency of digestive enzymes.
The Enzyme Cellulase
(Aspergillus niger)
Responsible for the digestion of fiber, from fruits and vegetables.
The Enzyme Lipase
Lipase is responsible for breaking down lipids (fats) and the digestion of nutrients in the intestines. (Benefits of lipase); This digestive enzyme is responsible for breaking down lipids (fats), in particular triglycerides, which are fatty substances in the body that come from fat in the diet.
The Enzyme Lipase and Lipase AN
help digest fats and oils. Undigested fats can cause weight gain, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Additionally, Lipase helps your body better utilize omega fatty acids.
The Enzyme Ox Bile Extract
(ox bile)
Ox Bile Extract helps improves bile secretion which helps ease digestion. Benefits of ox bile extract include a possible reduction of gallstones, greater absorption of vitamin K, A, D and E and may be beneficial in treating liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatitis.
The Enzyme Pancreatin
A combination of 3 enzymes, Pancreatin produced by the exocrine cells of the pancreas. It is composed of amylase, lipase and protease. This digestive enzyme mixture is used to treat conditions in which pancreatic secretions are deficient, such as pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis. (Benefits of Pancreatin) It has been claimed to help with food allergies, celiac disease, autoimmune disease, cancer, and weight loss. Pancreatin is sometimes called “pancreatic acid”, although it is neither a single chemical substance nor an acid.
The Enzyme Papain
(papaya)
Responsible for breaking down proteins, papain is an enzyme present in papaya. The benefits of papain is breaking down meat fibers. It has been utilized for thousands of years in its native South America.
The Enzyme Pepsin
Pepsin benefits-helps digests protein and stimulates the liver to produce bile. In the stomach, the enzyme pepsin functions to break proteins into smaller pieces. Because pepsin can only break the bonds next to certain amino acids, proteins are only broken into these shorter chains, and not digested all the way to amino acids. That must be done later, in the small intestine. Most digestion and absorption of nutrients occurs in the small intestine.
The Enzyme Protease
(Carica papaya)
Responsible for the digestion of proteins, protease is responsible for digesting proteins in your food, which is probably one of the most difficult substances to metabolize. The benefits of protease is considered to be one of the most important enzymes that we have. If the digestive process is incomplete, undigested protein can wind up in your circulatory system, as well as in other parts of your body.
The Enzyme Phytase, Hemicellulase and Xylanase
specifically, help with releasing fiber-bound minerals from plant sources.
The Enzyme Wobenzym N Enzyme
Designed Dr. Max Wolf and Dr. Helen Benitz using a sophisticated combination of the plant-based enzymes bromelain (pineapple extract) and papain (papaya extract), natural pancreatic enzymes trypsin and chymotrypsin, and the antioxidant flavonoid rutin.
The Enzyme Wobenzym N gives us “Systemic enzyme support” describes an approach whereby enzymes are utilized to assist the body’s various regulatory and communication systems, specifically the immune system. A balanced immune system is a prerequisite for the condition we all want: good health. In order to make sure that the systemic effect of the enzyme support succeeds, active enzyme molecules must be available in the small intestine for absorption.
Due to the high amount of processed foods in the North American diet, people over the age fo 35 can benefit from the daily use of digestive enzyme supplements.
Digestive Enzyme Amylase-Digesting Carbohydrates – Amylase Supplements
What is Amylase?
Amylase-Digesting Carbohydrates
Amylase is an enzyme in the class of digestive enzymes that breaks starch down into sugar. Salivary amylase is present in human saliva, where it begins the chemical process of digestion. Foods that contain much starch but little sugar, such as rice and potato, taste slightly sweet as they are chewed because amylase turns some of their starch into sugar in the mouth.
The pancreas also makes amylase (alpha amylase) to break down dietary starch into di- and trisaccharides which are converted by other enzymes to glucose to supply the body with energy. Plants and some bacteria also produce amylase.
As a digestive enzyme Amylase supplements have a combination of Protease (breaks down protein), amylase (breaks down starch), lipase (breaks down fat), cellulase (breaks down fiber).
Digestive Enzyme Amylase
Amylase is a digestive enzyme found in pancreatic juice and saliva, and is what the body needs to break down sugars and starches. It also clings to carbohydrates and eventually converts them to monosaccharides such as glucose. Carbohydrates can be stored in the body as glycogen, the polymeric form of glucose, for future use.
If carbohydrates are eaten in excessive amounts, the body changes them into fats and stores them in that form. Amylase is also found during the ripening process of fruit plants where it synthesizes and gives the fruit a sweeter taste.
Amylase enzymes are used extensively in bread making to break down complex sugars such as starch (found in flour) into simple sugars.
Amylase and Carbohydrates digestion; The process of digesting carbohydrates begins in the mouth. Our saliva contains an enzyme called amylase that starts breaking down the more complex carbs into simpler types. Enzyme activity continues in the stomach but slows down significantly as digestive acids are released into the stomach by the glands.
Another version of amylase is secreted by the pancreas into the duodenum (first section of small intestine). This cuts down carbohydrates into simple sugars – maltose, lactose and sucrose. As the carbohydrate passes further into the intestine, the enzymes chop maltose lactose and sucrose into smaller bits,to be more easily absorbed, which are eventually converted to glucose and absorbed through the intestinal walls into the bloodstream.
After carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, in the duodenum and jejunum of the small intestine, the glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream and taken to the liver, where it is stored or distributed to cells throughout the body for energy. In this way, the liver regulates levels to provide sufficient energy for the body.
Amylase-How are carbohydrates broken down into glucose?
For example, excess glucose (a cause of hyperglycemia) is converted in the liver to glycogen (glycogenolysis) in response to the hormone insulin and stored. Likewise, if blood sugar levels fall, (eg. between meals), the glycogen is re-converted to glucose (glycogenolysis) in response to messages conveyed by the hormone glucagon, to prevent hypoglycemia. If glycogen levels are exhausted, glucagon can trigger the formation of glucose from some amino acids (protein) or glycerol (fats) – a process called gluconeogenesis.
Amylase-How We “Digest Carbohydrates”
In simple terms, the digestive system from the mouth to the small intestine (carbohydrates digested in the digestive system) is designed to break down disaccharides and polysaccharides into monosaccharides.
This metabolism of carbohydrates is achieved through the secretion of a number of digestive enzymes into the gastrointestinal tract “intestinal digestion” (especially in the duodenum) where they attack carbohydrates and gradually convert them into simple sugars like glucose so they can be absorbed into the blood.
Digestive enzymes are involved in digesting carbohydrates
Digestive enzymes are like biological scissors – they chop long starch molecules into simpler ones. Sometimes our bodies require the help of “digestive aids”
Amylase-What Determines Speed of “Digesting Carbohydrates”?
Generally speaking, the speed of carbohydrate digestion is determined by the chemical nature of the carbohydrate itself, and thus how “resistant” it is to the activity of the enzymes.
More on the Digestive Tract Bloating, Constipation…..Help With Digestive Aids
A simple sugar is much less resistant than a starch, and is digested or metabolized much faster. Poor digestion, Things that slow down carbohydrate digestion include: the presence of acid (from gastric juices or the food itself), and the presence of soluble fiber.
Carbohydrates are a class of natural organic substances that includes sugars, starch and cellulose (indigestible plant fiber).
The digestion of a particular carbohydrate in the gastrointestinal tract depends upon the complexity of the carbs molecular structure – the more complex it is, the harder the digestive system must work to break it down in order to absorb it into the bloodstream.
Bacilliary amylase is used in detergents to dissolve starches from fabrics.
An inhibitor of alpha-amylase called phaseolamin has been tested as a potential diet aid for weight loss. (Phaseolamin is a generic name for a proteinaceous inhibitor of the enzyme alpha-amylase that is made from white kidney bean extract.)
Blood serum amylase may be measured for purposes of medical diagnosis. A normal concentration is in the range 21-101 U/L. A higher than normal concentration may reflect one of several medical conditions, including acute inflammation of the pancreas, macroamylasemia, perforated peptic ulcer, and mumps. Amylase may be measured in other body fluids, including urine and peritoneal fluid.
Amylase tests can help diagnose many diseases where Amylase levels are elevated, and Amylase tests are done on both blood and urine when there is sudden abdominal pain. Pancreatitis is the main reason Amylase levels increase, but mumps infections can cause a rise as well.
Other culprits could be ulcers, gall bladder disease, tumors of the lung or ovaries, alcohol poisoning, ruptured aortic aneurysm, and intestinal strangulation or perforations. People who cannot digest fats often eat sugar and carbohydrates to make up for the lack of fat in their diet, but doing so can often lead to an Amylase deficiency.
Amylase Supplements For Weight Loss
Alpha-amylase is a digestive enzyme that breaks down starch into smaller carbohydrate units that can subsequently be broken down into the simple sugar, glucose. Glucose is absorbed directly into the bloodstream following its uptake by intestinal cells, resulting in a relatively rapid rise in serum glucose levels. Glucose is used by all cells of the body to fuel metabolism. Excess glucose, however, can be converted into fat and stored in adipose tissue.
What Is Lipase | Digestive Enzyme Lipase | Lipase Breaks Down fats
Lipase enzyme is responsible for breaking down lipids (fats) and the digestion of nutrients in the intestines. The digestive enzyme lipase is responsible for breaking down lipids (fats), in particular triglycerides, which are fatty substances in the body that come from fat in the diet.
Lipase Supplements
Anyone can take Lipase supplements for the benefits of healthy digestion and keeping nutrient levels balanced throughout the body. Specifically though, this enzyme can help treat Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and indigestion, and while there is no hard scientific evidence, physicians prescribe Lipase supplements to treat food allergies, symptoms of cystic fibrosis, and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
LIPASE catalyzes the hydrolysis of ester bonds on the glycerol backbone of a lipid substrate.
In humans, pancreatic lipase is the key enzyme responsible for breaking down fats in the digestive system by converting triglycerides to monoglycerides and free fatty acids.
Human pancreatic lipase and its related protein 2 are the main lipases secreted by the pancreas. In acute pancreatitis, lipase levels can rise 5 to 10-fold within 24 to 48 hours. Increased activities have also been associated with pancreatic duct obstruction, pancreatic cancer, kidney disease, salivary gland inflammation, bowel obstruction, and other pancreatic diseases. Low lipase levels may indicate permanent damage to lipase-producing cells in the pancreas. this temperature prior to adding to the sample.
QuantiChromTM Lipase Assay Kit (DLPS-100)
The main lipases of the human digestive system are human pancreatic lipase (HPL) and pancreatic lipase related protein 2 (PLRP2), which are secreted by the pancreas. Humans also have several other related enzymes, including hepatic lipase (HL), endothelial lipase, and lipoprotein lipase. Not all of these lipases function in the gut.
Lipase test
The blood test for lipase is ordered, often along with an amylase test, to help diagnose and monitor acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), chronic pancreatitis, and other disorders that involve the pancreas.
Lipase testing is also occasionally used in the diagnosis and follow-up of cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, and Crohn’s disease.
Elevated lipase
High lipase indicates there is an increased amount of the enzyme lipase in the blood. A few causes for elevated lipase levels are:
- Gastroenteritis
- Pancreatitis
- Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic lipase
– digestive juice – In order to exhibit optimal enzyme activity in the gut lumen, HPL requires another protein, colipase, which is also secreted by the pancreas. If pancreatic lipase levels get too high, the patient will develop pancreatitis, and his pancreas will fail. Many of the enzymes released from the pancreas help break food down so it can be used by your body. Serum lipase levels are used in the diagnosis of acute (severe) pancreatitis. The pancreas is the organ in your body with the most lipase activity.
Pancreatic lipase is an enzyme (more specifically, a lipase) secreted from the pancreas that uses hydrolysis to break apart fat molecules. Bile salts secreted from the liver and stored in the gallbladder are released into the duodenum where they coat and emulsify large fat droplets into smaller droplets, thus increasing the overall surface area of the fat, which allows the lipase to break apart the fat more effectively.
The resulting monomers are then moved by way of peristalsis along the small intestine to be absorbed into the lymphatic system by a specialized vessel called a lacteal. This protein belongs to pancreatic lipase family.
Unlike some pancreatic enzymes like trypsin which are first secreted in the inactive form (e.g. trypsinogen), pancreatic lipase is secreted as the active enzyme.
Pancreatic lipase related protein 1
Digestive juice – Pancreatic lipase related protein 1 is very similar to PLRP2 and HPL by amino acid sequence (all three genes probably arose via gene duplication of a single ancestral pancreatic lipase gene). However, PLRP1 is devoid of detectable lipase activity and its function remains unknown, even though it is conserved in other mammals.
lysosomal lipase
Also referred to as lysosomal acid lipase (LAL or LIPA) or acid cholesteryl ester hydrolase. Cholesteryl ester storage disease (CESD) and Wolman disease are both caused by mutations in the gene encoding lysosomal lipa.
Hepatic lipase
Hepatic lipase is a form of lipase. It is expressed in the liver and adrenal glands. Hepatic lipase acts on the remaining lipids carried on lipoproteins in the blood to regenerate LDL (low-density lipoprotein). Hepatic lipase deficiency is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder that results in elevated high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol due to a mutation in the hepatic lipase gene.
Lipoprotein lipase
Lipoprotein lipase functions in the blood to act on triacylglycerides carried on VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein) so that cells can take up the freed fatty acids. Lipoprotein lipase deficiency is caused by mutations in the gene encoding lipoprotein lipase.
Hormone-sensitive lipase
intracellular -also known as LIPE is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the LIPE gene. It is also known as triglyceride lipase, while the enzyme that cleaves the second fatty acid in the triglyceride is known as diglyceride lipase, and the third enzyme that cleaves the final fatty acid is called monoglyceride lipase. Only the initial enzyme is affected by hormones, hence it’s hormone-sensitive lipase name. The diglyceride and monoglyceride enzymes are 10 to 100′s faster hence HSL is the rate-limiting step in cleaving fatty acids from the triglyceride molecule.
LIPE is activated when the body needs to mobilize energy stores, and so respond positively to glucagon, catecholamines, ACTH and negatively to insulin.
Gastric lipase
Digestive juice – Functions in the infant at a near-neutral pH to aid in the digestion of lipids.
Lingual lipase
Digestive juice – An enzyme secreted in the buccal cavity that operates in the acid environment of the stomach to digest short-chain saturated fatty acids, such as those in palm oil and coconut.
Lipases are one of three categories of enzymes manufactured by the pancreas. The pancreas is a leaf-shaped gland about five inches long. Along with lipase, the pancreas secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon, which your body needs to metabolize sugar into the bloodstream. The other two enzymes include amylases, which break starch molecules into more simple sugars, and proteases, which break protein molecules into single amino acids. Lipases help your body digest fats by hydrolyzing (breaking up) triglycerides into base glycerol and fatty acid molecules creating free fatty acids and monoglycerides, which are more easily used by the body.
Lipase Summary
Lipase can be used to treat digestive problems and conditions that cause you to have trouble absorbing nutrients from food. These conditions can result in nutrient deficiencies. Lipase supplements can help your body absorb food more easily, keeping your body’s nutrients at healthy levels.
Some consider pancreatic enzymes of value in treating autoimmune disorders (such as rheumatoid arthritis), inflammatory diseases, and food allergies. Pancreatic enzymes have been most studied in treating early diagnosed celiac disease (a condition that affects the intestinal tract and can cause nutrient deficiencies) by enhancing the benefit of a gluten-free diet.
Lipase is a digestive enzyme that helps the body absorb and digest nutrients in the intestines. It breaks down lipids (fats), particularly triglycerides, which are fatty substances in the body that come from fat in the diet. Lipase is produced mainly in the pancreas, but the mouth and stomach manufacture small amounts as well. This enzyme helps the pancreas secrete insulin and glucagon, which are hormones that help the body break down sugar in the bloodstream.
