Perhaps you've seen lipase supplements but are confused about what they do and what their relationship is to body fat. Lipase is one of the most commonly misunderstood substances on the supplement market mainly due to a lot of misinformation that exists.
Lipase is a naturally occurring enzyme in the human body, produced by the pancreas and vital for proper digestion. Lipase is often misunderstood because of its association with soluble and insoluble fats. Despite what some people believe about body fat, it's not all bad.
In fact, the human body needs ample amounts of fat in order to function properly. The brain, nervous system, and cell membranes are made up almost entirely of fats, yet without lipase, the proper digestion and absorption of fats by the body is hindered.
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Lipase Function In their natural state, fats are insoluble. That means they need to be altered in order to be carried through the system in the bloodstream. Lipase splits fat molecules into two parts for that very purpose. Those two parts are fatty acids and glycerol. Lipase in the sto... more
In their natural state, fats are insoluble. That means they need to be altered in order to be carried through the system in the bloodstream. Lipase splits fat molecules into two parts for that very purpose. Those two parts are fatty acids and glycerol.
Lipase in the stomach also directly digests already emulsified fats such as those found in eggs and dairy products. When the body produces an ample amount of this enzyme, fats are more readily used as they should be.
Another factor to consider is that lipase needs the help of the liver and bile production to be most effective. Because most fat molecules are fairly large in size, lipase has a difficult task in splitting them up effectively.
Bile helps the digestive process by breaking large molecules into smaller ones thus giving the lipase much more surface area to work with. Therefore, in people with low bile production fat deficiency issues can occur.
Vegetarians are very susceptible to this condition because their diets discourage the production of bile. In their case, lipase supplements may help to some degree by providing more of the enzyme to break down fats. But if normal bile production were restored their fat deficiency issues would go away.
Most people who are normally healthy will not need to take lipase supplements. Lipase is often touted as a supplement that can help in weight loss, but that is usually not true for most people. In fact, in a healthy person lipase can actually cause weight gain because it helps the body absorb more fat.
On the other hand, using lipase as a supplement is helpful to people with certain chronic diseases. One example would be fat intolerance, a condition in which the body is unable to properly digest fat so it can be absorbed into the system. Additional lipase can help alleviate the problem somewhat.
Another example of beneficial lipase use would be for those suffering from spastic colon. Since spastic colon is usually a sign of lipase deficiency, it would stand to reason that taking the enzyme supplement would be beneficial. Unfortunately, many doctors prescribe powerful drugs to treat spastic colon when a simple lipase supplement would do.
Because lipase is a naturally occurring body enzyme in human beings it's considered generally safe to be taken in moderation as a supplement. Most of us naturally produce enough of the enzyme to the degree that taking a lipase supplement is not needed.
Taking supplements might push some people beyond what is considered normal lipase levels and into excess lipase, with some side effects resulting. Most of the known side effects from taking lipase supplements are mild, though some can be severe.
Because of lipase is an enzyme used in the digestive process, the most common side effects occur as some sort of gastric distress. This can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and general upset stomach.
In severe cases lipase supplements can cause intestinal cramps and moderate to severe abdominal pain. If any of these symptoms occur you should cease taking lipase supplements immediately. If they persist over several days you should see a doctor. Lipase supplements are not regulated by the FDA.
Among the more serious side effects of excess lipase are allergic reactions and neurological problems. Where allergic reactions are concerned, there are people who can go into anaphylactic shock as a result of taking lipase.
Anaphylactic shock is recognizable by the rapid development of hives and swelling - especially in the mouth and throat. Anaphylactic shock can be fatal if swelling in the throat prevents proper breathing.
From a neurological standpoint, side effects of this nature generally only occur when the lipase is combined with other digestive enzymes in a single supplement. These side effects include blurred vision, nervousness, anxiety, and insomnia. These are also symptoms you should immediately notify your doctor of if you experience them.
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| Constipation |
| Vomiting |
| Allergic Reaction |
| Upset Stomach |
| Nausea And/Or Diarrhea |
| Neurological Problems |
| Lipasa, Triacylglycerol lipase. |
| Absorbs Fat |
| Fights Disease |