Lipase - what is it? Protease, amylase, lipase

Analysis for lipase is prescribed for suspected GI disease. Let's look at a more detailed enzyme called "lipase" - what is it? What functions does it perform in the body, and what diseases are indicated by its deviation from the norm in the test results?

Lipase is an enzyme produced by certain organs of the human body. It dissolves, divides and digests various fractions of fats, and also performs a number of other important tasks. The main significance is pancreatic lipase. Her activity can be assessed when entering the body fat.

The enzyme "works" together with colipase (coenzyme) and bile acids. It is produced, in addition to the pancreas, lungs, stomach, intestines and even leukocytes - white blood cells belonging to the immune system. There is also such a thing as "lingual lipase". What it is? It is an enzyme that is produced in the oral cavity of newborn infants for the primary digestion of food, that is, for the splitting of mother's milk.

Pancreatic lipase

Its level in the blood is much higher than the level of other types of lipase. However, with pancreatectomy (removal of the pancreas), a small percentage of lipase still remains due to its allocation by other organs. In the urinalysis, lipase is normally absent. After "birth" in the pancreas, it enters the intestine, where it performs its basic function - it breaks down fats. Lipase pancreatic plays a particularly important role. It is on her definition that blood is shed, since changes in this indicator can help in the diagnosis of many diseases. Which ones, we consider below.

Pancreatic lipase - what is it? It is an enzyme produced by the pancreas that "breaks" triglycerides into glycerin and higher fatty acids. Often it splits the bile-emulsified mushrooms.

Functions of lipase in the body

In addition to the breakdown of fats, lipase participates in energy metabolism, and also takes part in the assimilation of polyunsaturated fatty acids and even some vitamins - in particular, A, D, E, K.

1. Hepatic lipase is responsible for regulation of lipid content in the plasma. It promotes the assimilation of chylomicrons and low-density lipoproteins.
2. Gastric lipase is responsible for stimulating the splitting of tributyrin oil.
3. Lingual lipase.
   

Lipase Assay

The analysis for lipase is carried out in two cases:

1. In order to identify pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas ).
2. To assess the effectiveness of treatment of pancreatitis.

A blood test for lipase is considered more informative for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis than the determination of amylase in the blood. However, in the late stages of acute pancreatitis, the level of lipase may decrease. In uncomplicated epidemic parotitis (the so-called "mumps"), its level remains within the norm and increases only if the disease affects the pancreas. This is also possible with acute or chronic kidney disease, although an increase in amylase is more pronounced in this case. So, we looked at an enzyme called "lipase" - what it is and what functions it performs in the body. Let us dwell on the analysis of blood for lipase.

How to prepare for the analysis?

Blood is surrendered strictly on an empty stomach, you can drink only water before you pass the test. After the last meal should take at least 8-12 hours. It is better to do this before starting the medication or 1-2 weeks after they are withdrawn. If this is not possible, before giving blood should be reported on what drugs are used.

The day before taking blood, you should sit on an easy diet - to eliminate fatty, fried, spicy food, alcohol, and avoid heavy physical exertion. It is recommended to donate blood before carrying out other studies - fluorography, radiography - or physiotherapy procedures.

The norm of the level of lipase in the blood

Indicator of many diseases is the enzyme lipase, the norm of which in adult men and women is almost the same. In adults, that is, people who have reached the age of 18 - from 0 to 190 units. Children (up to 17 years) are considered to have a lipase content of 0 to 130 units.

What does the increase in the level of lipase in the blood indicate?

What does the increase in the enzyme level called lipase mean? The norm of its content indicates that everything is in order with the pancreas, but if the indices are increased, this may indicate the following diseases:

1. Acute pancreatitis or exacerbation of the disease that occurs chronically.
2. Biliary colic.
3. Chronic pathologies of the gallbladder.
4. Pancreatic injury.
5. Presence of neoplasms in the pancreas.
6. Blockage of the ducts of the pancreas (stone or scar).
7. Intrahepatic cholestasis (and a decrease in the intake of bile in the duodenum).
8. Acute intestinal obstruction.
9. Infarction of the intestine.
10. Peritonitis (inflammation of the peritoneum).
11. The perforated ulcer of the stomach.
12. Perforation of a hollow organ.
13. Hepatic pathology, acute or chronic.
14. Epidemic parotitis ("mumps"), which complicates the pancreas.
15. Disorders of metabolism, which is usually observed with gout, diabetes, obesity.
16. Cirrhosis of the liver.

And also sometimes lipase increases with organ transplantation and long-term administration of medications, such as barbiturates, narcotic analgesics, indomethacin, heparin.

Lipase pancreatic increases and with injuries of tubular bones. However, since lipase analysis can not provide the necessary information about physical damage, this index is not taken into account in fractures.

But when the pancreas is affected, the analysis for lipase and amylase is very important. Their simultaneous increase with a high level of accuracy indicates a pathological process occurring in the cells of the gland. During the normalization of the patient's condition, the level of amylase comes back to normal faster than the level of lipase.

Causes of a drop in blood lipase

If lipase is lowered, it reports problems such as:

1. The development of any cancer without the oncology of the pancreas.
2. Excess triglycerides, which occurs with malnutrition, in particular excessive intake of fats.
3. Transition of pancreatitis to a chronic stage.

Lipase in enzyme preparations

Our body produces food enzymes for digesting proteins, fats and carbohydrates (the main ones are amylase, lipase and protease). However, in the case of a decrease in the production of enzymes (enzymatic deficiency), pancreatitis and other diseases of the pancreas, drugs containing animal enzymes are prescribed, they are in the shell, therefore they are protected even from the increased acidity of the gastric juice. Reaching the duodenum, they are activated in it. Often, enzymes are prescribed by short courses, but there are cases when they drink long enough. Prolonged intake of enzymes may be accompanied by a certain decrease in the function of the pancreas, but after the drug is discontinued the organ work is restored. Of pancreatic enzymes, usually prescribed "Creon", "Festal", "Mezim", "Pancreaticum", "Pansinorm" and other drugs, the main active ingredient of which is pancreatin. It contains protease, lipase, amylase. The level of lipase in one tablet is higher than that of other enzymes. This is due to the fact that lipase, in comparison with the rest of the enzymes, is produced by the body in the least amount when the disease occurs. Given that lipase is lowered in the body, its content in the preparations is not less than 10,000 units of action (ED).

Enzyme preparations are in most cases safe for the body. They often play the role of concomitant therapy in the treatment of antibiotics, along with pre- and probiotics, as well as vitamins and other agents.