The gastrointestinal tract uses several enzymes to help digest the foods you eat. Enzymes are proteins that speed up the rate of chemical reactions within your body. Digestive enzymes take carbohydrates, fats and proteins and break them down into simpler compounds that are easier for the gut to absorb, and for the body to utilize as energy and building blocks for other molecules. Many digestive enzyme conditions can cause health problems.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, results from the backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus, the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. This causes the typical symptoms of heartburn, chest pain, sour taste in the mouth and vomiting. One of the stomach digestive enzymes, pepsin, helps in the digestion of proteins. It is thought that the backflow of acidic stomach contents into the esophagus also contains pepsin, and that it is responsible for some of the symptoms of GERD.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is the condition that results from decreased levels of lactase, the digestive enzyme that helps digest lactose. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, lactose is a complex sugar, present in cow's milk and other dairy products, which must be broken down into simpler sugars to be absorbed by the intestine. Lactase is the enzyme that facilitates the breakdown of lactose. Decreased levels of the lactase enzyme result in lactose intolerance, with symptoms of bloating, diarrhea and stomach cramps when you ingest lactose-containing products.
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. This organ secretes two important digestive enzymes, lipase and amylase. Lipase helps in the digestion of dietary fats, while amylase helps in the breakdown of carbohydrates. When the pancreas becomes inflamed as a result of gallstones, alcoholism or viruses, the levels of these enzymes increase in the bloodstream. This makes them important markers for the diagnosis and monitoring of pancreatic disease. According to The Merck Manuals, these enzymes can also cause damage to the pancreas itself, especially if you suffer from chronic pancreatitis.
Pernicious anemia
Pernicious anemia is a condition that results from deficiency of vitamin B-12. This vitamin is important in the formation of red blood cells, which are responsible for carrying oxygen around the body. To facilitate the absorption of vitamin B-12 from the gut, the intestine secretes an enzyme called intrinsic factor. Causes of intrinsic factor deficiency include surgery to the part of your intestine that secretes the enzyme, inherited conditions and certain autoimmune disorders.
