As nutritional science advances, we are learning more and more about the important role that carbohydrates play in our overall health – whether you are eating too many, the wrong kind, or need to load up for athletic activity. Show In all three of these scenarios, nutrient absorption, or malabsorption, plays a key role. A major part of making sure that you optimally absorb all nutrients you require from the food you eat is having necessary levels of the enzymes that help process them. This is where amylase comes in. As lipase helps you digest fats and protease helps you digest protein, amylase is essential to breaking down carbohydrates. The Role of the Amylase EnzymeAmong the “trinity” of digestive enzymes, amylase is unique in that its effects are observed faster than the other enzymes. This is because amylase comes from two distinct parts of your body: the pancreas and salivary glands in the mouth. The end goal of amylase is to break down carbohydrates into simple sugars that the body can use for energy, and this starts in the mouth. As food is chewed and mixed with saliva, amylase starts working to break down food into smaller molecules (1). In the stomach, this amylase is neutralised by gastric acid, and the starch, only partially broken down, goes on to the small intestine. In the intestine, the starch is broken down further by the next set of amylase enzymes, this time released by the pancreas. The final result is glucose, which moves on into your bloodstream to be used for energy (2). Low levels of glucose in the blood can lead to fatigue and muscle weakness, and glucose is the preferred type of fuel for the brain and nervous system. However, different types of carbohydrates manifest this energy in different ways. For example, simple carbs, like those found in refined sugars, break down quickly, giving a quick burst of energy followed by fatigue (3). For more complex carbohydrates, amylase breaks things down more slowly, leading to more consistent energy levels. Good foods in this category include: Added Benefits of Amylase EnzymesAmylase’s primary function is digestion, but it may play a role in other facets of health as well, perhaps not directly, but as an indicator. One study showed that people with metabolic syndrome are more likely to have low serum amylase levels (4).Another study showed that levels of salivary alpha-amylase were extremely sensitive to psychosocial stress. This means that amylase may have future use as a means to help measure stress levels (5). Amylase has one additional small but important role – processing and digesting dead white blood cells.  There are several potential issues that can lead to enzyme deficiencies or imbalances. Some of the most common are issues with the pancreas, but alcoholism and certain medications can impact the levels of amylase that you have in your body. Also, we naturally start producing lower levels of amylase as we age. If you find that eating starchy foods is giving you inordinate amounts of discomfort, it would be worthwhile to meet with your doctor and have your amylase levels checked. If digestive enzymes are found to be low or suspected to be low, supplementation can be an ideal way to increase your digestive enzyme levels and lead to better digestive health overall. The carbohydrate digesting enzymes are salivary amylase, pancreatic amylase, maltase, lactase, sucrase, etc. Also Check: Stay tuned to BYJU’S to learn similar questions and important points related to digestion.
Digestive enzymes are substances that help you digest your food. They are secreted (released) by the salivary glands and cells lining the stomach, pancreas, and small intestine. They do this by splitting the large, complex molecules that make up proteins, carbohydrates, and fats into smaller ones. This allows the nutrients from these foods to be easily absorbed into the bloodstream and carried throughout the body. Keep reading to learn about different types of digestive enzymes and how they work. Digestive enzymes are released when we:
Some foods require certain digestive enzymes to break down the specific nutrients they contain. A variety of health conditions, especially those that affect the pancreas, can lead to deficiencies in digestive enzymes. This is because the pancreas secretes several key enzymes. Often these deficiencies can be fixed by changing your diet. You can avoid certain foods or eat foods containing naturally occurring digestive enzymes. You can also take prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) enzyme supplements. Each of the many different digestive enzymes targets a specific nutrient and splits it up into a form that can eventually be absorbed. The most important digestive enzymes are:
Keep reading to learn more about the most essential types of digestive enzymes. Amylase is important for digesting carbohydrates. It breaks down starches into sugars. Amylase is secreted by both the salivary glands and the pancreas. The measurement of amylase levels in the blood is sometimes used as an aid in diagnosing various pancreas or other digestive tract diseases. High levels of amylase in the blood may mean you have: Low levels of amylase may mean you have chronic pancreatitis (ongoing inflammation of the pancreas) or liver disease. The small intestine releases maltase, which is responsible for breaking down maltose (malt sugar) into glucose (simple sugar). The body uses glucose for energy. During digestion, starch is partially transformed into maltose by amylases. The maltase enzyme then changes maltose into glucose. This sugar is then either used immediately by the body or stored in the liver as glycogen for future use. Lactase (also called lactase-phlorizin hydrolase) is an enzyme that breaks down lactose, a sugar found in dairy products. It turns lactose into the simple sugars glucose and galactose. Lactase is produced by cells known as enterocytes that line the intestinal tract. Lactose that is not absorbed is fermented by bacteria in the gut. This can cause you to have gas and an upset stomach. Lipase is responsible for the breakdown of fats into fatty acids and glycerol (simple sugar alcohol). It's produced in small amounts by your mouth and stomach, and in larger amounts by your pancreas. Also called peptidases, proteolytic enzymes, or proteinases, these digestive enzymes break down proteins into amino acids. They also play a role in numerous body processes, including:
Proteases are produced in the stomach and pancreas. The main ones are:
Sucrase is secreted by the small intestine, where it breaks down sucrose (the sugar in table sugar) into fructose and glucose. These are simpler sugars that the body can absorb. Sucrase is found along the intestinal villi. These are tiny hair-like structures that line the intestine and absorb nutrients into the bloodstream. There are a variety of health conditions that can interfere with the secretion of enough digestive enzymes to fully digest foods. Some are inherited genetic conditions while others develop over time. Lactose intolerance occurs when you aren't able to digest lactose because of insufficient production of lactase by the small intestine. When you consume dairy products, you may experience:
There are several forms of lactose intolerance. Congenital Lactase Deficiency Congenital lactase deficiency (also called congenital alactasia) is a rare inherited form of lactose intolerance. It happens when newborns are unable to break down lactose in breast milk or formula. They get severe diarrhea if they aren't given a lactose-free alternative. Congenital lactase deficiency is caused by mutations in the LCT gene that provides instructions for making the lactase enzyme. Lactase Non-Persistence Lactase non-persistence is a common type of lactose intolerance that some people develop as adults. It affects around 65% of people, and it's caused by decreased expression (activity) of the LCT gene. Symptoms typically begin 30 minutes to two hours after eating or drinking dairy. Most people with lactase non-persistence keep some level of lactase activity and can continue to include a small amount of lactose in their diets. This may be in the form of cheese or yogurt since both tend to be tolerated better than fresh milk. Secondary Lactose Intolerance Secondary lactose intolerance develops when lactase production is reduced because of diseases that can damage the small intestine. These diseases include celiac disease or Crohn's disease as well as other illnesses or injuries that affect the intestinal wall. The pancreas produces the key digestive enzymes amylase, protease, and lipase. People with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) have a deficiency of these enzymes. As a result, they are unable to digest food properly, especially fats. The health conditions that affect the pancreas and are associated with EPI are:
People who don't have sufficient amounts of digestive enzymes or who are looking to support healthy digestion should consider supplementing their diet with digestive enzymes. They can do this by eating healthy foods that contain naturally occurring digestive enzymes. But they can also take nutritional supplements under a healthcare provider's guidance.
Digestive juices require hydration, so make sure that you drink water throughout the day. A variety of foods, especially tropical fruits and fermented vegetables, are naturally high in digestive enzymes that might speed up the digestion of certain nutrients. It's best to eat them raw since heat can lessen or destroy these plant enzymes.
Digestive enzyme supplements can come in:
There are prescription supplements regulated by the FDA as well as over-the-counter supplements. Prescription enzyme supplements are recommended for conditions that affect the functioning of the pancreas, such as chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer. Brands of prescription pancreatic enzyme supplements (pancrelipase) include Creon, Pancreaze, Zenpep, Ultresa, Viokace, and Pertzye. Over-the-counter enzyme supplements are not regulated by the FDA. There haven't been enough high-quality studies on them, so it's hard to know how effective they are. The following are some of the supplemental enzymes that don't require a prescription:
As with any supplement, check with your healthcare provider before taking an over-the-counter digestive enzyme to make sure it's safe for you. Digestive enzymes are substances that help you digest your food. They're secreted by the salivary glands and cells lining the stomach, pancreas, and small intestine. Sometimes people have a digestive enzyme deficiency. These deficiencies are connected to various health conditions. Many of these health conditions are related to the pancreas.
You can treat a digestive enzyme deficiency by changing your diet and/or taking a prescription or over-the-counter enzyme supplement. Before you decide to take an enzyme supplement, get your healthcare provider's advice. They can help you determine if it's safe for you. Frequently Asked Questions
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What enzyme breaks down carbohydrates
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