Digestive enzymes are proteins necessary for breaking down food into absorbable molecules. These proteins drive the chemical process of digestion within the alimentary tract. The mouth, stomach, pancreas and small intestine are all involved in the production of amylases, lipases and proteases--the broad groups of enzymes needed for the splitting of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
Salivary Amylase
Salivary amylase, also known as ptyalin, is one of the amylases produced in animals. Plants, and foods derived from plants, contain insoluble starch molecules. These molecules must be split into smaller units of sugars in order to be used for fuel by the body. Amylase is produced in the mouth by the salivary glands and mixes with food as it is chewed.
Pancreatic Amylase
Sometimes called amylopsin, pancreatic amylase is one of the enzymes present in the pancreatic juice. This enzyme breaks down starch into a mixture of the sugars maltose, and glucose.
Maltase
Maltase is present in the cells of the small intestine and is needed to break down maltose into the more usable sugar, glucose.
Lipase
Lipase is an enzyme used for the splitting of fats into glycerol and fatty acids so that they may be absorbed by the small intestine. Lipase is found in the mouth and stomach, but its main site of production is the pancreas.
Pepsin
Pepsin is actually a group of four enzymes made up of pepsin A, B, C and D, according to the Worthington Enzyme Manual. Pepsin A is the primary gastric enzyme for the digestion of proteins, and is produced by the stomach lining.
Trypsin
Trypsin is in the serine protease family of enzymes, and is a major enzyme produced by the pancreas. Trypsin is necessary for splitting proteins into very short amino acid chains before they are broken down further in the small intestine.
Chymotrypsin
Chymotrypsin is an enzyme produced by the action of trypsin and has a similar action to trypsin.
Peptidases
Peptidases, also called proteases, are a group of enzymes produced by the small intestine, and are used for the breakdown of small protein chains into individual amino acids.
Lactase
Lactase is produced by the cells of the small intestine and digests milk sugar.
