Amylase, protease and lipase are proteins secreted by organs in the gastrointestinal tract to help in the process of digestion. The pancreas produces the bulk of these proteins, while the glands that produce saliva in the mouth also secrete amylase. From the pancreas, the enzymes travel to the duodenum portion of the small intestine to help in the breakdown of food.
The Pancreas
The pancreas is the main source of digestive enzymes. According to the Merck Manual, these enzymes travel from the pancreas to the small intestine in inactive form and become active only when they enter the gastrointestinal tract. Inflammation or damage to the pancreas, also known as pancreatitis, releases high levels of these enzymes into the bloodstream. These levels can then be used to diagnose pancreatic conditions, and to monitor the recovery of the pancreas. Common causes of pancreatitis include chronic alcoholism, gallstones, viruses and medications.
Amylase
Amylase is a protein that helps break down complex carbohydrates into simple sugars. This is necessary for the body to be able to absorb sugars and use them for energy. Amylase also helps break down starch, the main storage form of sugar in the plants we ingest, and allows for its digestion. Amylase can be detected in the blood in small amounts, but high levels of amylase can help in the diagnosis and monitoring of pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas. According to Lab Tests Online, the amylase level can be four to six times higher than normal during acute pancreatitis.
Lipase
Lipase is another pancreatic enzyme. Its main function is to help digest fats. Dietary fats are composed mainly of triglycerides, which cannot be absorbed by the intestine in their natural form. Lipase helps in the absorption of fats by breaking down triglycerides into fatty acids, which can be easily absorbed by the intestinal surface. Lipase levels also increase during pancreatitis. According to Lab Tests Online, lipase levels go up within a day or two after the onset of acute pancreatitis and stay elevated for five to seven days.
Protease
The pancreas secretes several proteases, including trypsin and chymotrypsin, to aid in the digestion of proteins. Although the stomach starts the breakdown of proteins with another digestive enzyme called pepsin, the bulk of the process takes place in the intestine, with the help of proteases. Proteases could auto-digest the pancreas if active, so they are produced in an inactive form until released into the intestine, where they become active.
