Last Updated on April 28, 2021 by ImmuneshieldAdmin
Digestion is one of the most essential functions performed by the human body. It refers to the breakdown of macronutrients like fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into simpler forms called lipids, amino acids, and glucose. The nutrients in these forms are readily absorbed and utilized by the body. But digestion is no simple process. It involves multiple organs and chemicals called digestive enzymes.
Digestive enzymes are special types of proteins whose functions are to catalyze and speed up biological processes like the breaking down of the food you eat.
Scientists discovered that it would probably take a chemical reaction several years to finish without the help of enzymes. If not for digestive enzymes, an apple for breakfast could take you millions of years to digest.
Types of Digestive Enzymes:
Digestive enzymes are categorized into three main groups namely lipase, carbohydrase, and protease.
Lipase is a group of digestive enzymes mainly responsible for the transport and digestion of fats, triglycerides, and oils in your food. It breaks down these large molecules into building blocks called fatty acids so that they can be absorbed by the small intestine.
Carbohydrase on the other hand is composed of several types of enzymes whose function is to break down complex carbohydrates like starch, fiber, and other polysaccharides into simple sugars. The absorption, processing, and storage of these energy-rich molecules are performed by the small intestine, liver, and pancreas.
Lastly, protease is a digestive enzyme that acts upon the proteins in your eggs, meat, and dairy. They are in charge of breaking down those macronutrients into their smaller components called amino acids, which are readily absorbed and utilized by the body cells.
Production of Digestive Enzymes:
The digestive enzymes are synthesized in the organs that participate in the digestion process. These include salivary glands, pancreas, small intestine, stomach, and liver.
The salivary glands produce a carbohydrase called amylase and a lipase called lingual lipase. Both are mixed into the human saliva and perform their function during chewing. The amylase acts on the starch components of the food, breaking it down to maltose while the lingual lipase breaks down small amounts of fats into building blocks.
It can be said that the heart of the digestive enzyme production is in the pancreas. It is capable of manufacturing amylase, protease (trypsin and chymotrypsin), and lipase. The pancreas releases these powerful enzymes to the small intestine to start digestion.
The stomach has protease and gastric juice that shred large protein molecules into peptide fragments. Digestion progresses further in the small intestine through the help of enzymes called peptidases, sucrase, lactase, and maltase that act on protein fragments and sugars. The liver complements these processes by producing bile salts that help break down fat globules.
Importance of Digestive Enzymes:
The truth is, it would be almost impossible for humans to absorb and utilize the nutrients and minerals in their food if not for digestive enzymes. Through their action, the body can
- Produce energy to do work.
- Produce hormones that control various aspects of life such as growth, development, metabolism, and reproduction.
- Protect the body from diseases.
- Strengthen body structures.