Lipase

Figure 1. A computer-generated image of a Lipase enzyme.

Lipase is a family of enzymes that catalyses the hydrolysis of fats (i.e. breaking down triglycerides into free fatty acids and glycerol).

Lipase is involved in diverse biological processes ranging from metabolism of dietary triglycerides (digestion, transportation and processing of dietary lipids), cell signalling, and inflammation. Within the human body, Lipase can be found in the pancreas, breast milk, digestive juice, lysosome, endothelium, saliva, small intestines, and intracellular spaces.

As a dietary supplement, Lipase is taken to help with acute pancreatitis and other disorders of the pancreas, where the enzyme may not be sufficiently produced by the body to breakdown fats.