Lipanase

Lipanase, provided by Douglas Laboratories, is a natural pancreatic enzyme supplement formula providing high strength pancreatin, which is equivalent to 2, 400 mg of regular USP pancreatin.

FUNCTIONS The pancreas supplies the major digestive enzymes which catalyze the breakdown of fats, carbohydrates and protein, so that the breakdown products can be absorbed in the upper small intestine. Although fat digestion starts in the mouth with salivary lipase, most fat triglycerides are digested by pancreatic lipase, which is secreted by the exocrine pancreas into the duodenum. Pancreatic lipase separates triglycerides into monoglycerides and free fatty acids, which are efficiently absorbed in the upper small intestine. Some carbohydrate digestion takes place in the mouth by salivary amylase, but pancreatic amylase is the major carbohydrate-digesting enzyme. It breaks down starches into maltose and maltotriose, which are further hydrolyzed into glucose by the disaccharidases of the mucosal cells, and then absorbed. Protein digestion is initiated in the stomach by pepsin and hydrochloric acid, which denature and divide large proteins into smaller polypeptides. The pancreatic proteinases, trypsin and chymotrypsin, break down these polypeptides into free amino acids, and di- or tri-peptides, which are directly absorbed by the intestinal mucosa. Lipanase provides high levels of catalytically active pancreatic enzymes which are specific for fats, carbohydrates and proteins.

INDICATIONS Lipanase tablets may be a useful nutritional adjunct for individuals who wish to supplement their diets with pancreatic lipase, protease and amylase.