Lipase is a digestive enzyme mainly produced in the pancreas and has the function of breaking the fat of the diet into smaller molecules so that they can be absorbed by the intestine. In addition to the pancreas, the mouth and stomach also produce a little lipase to facilitate digestion.
The high rate of lipase in the blood is usually treated according to the cause of the problem because its increased levels indicate the existence of some disease in the digestive system, especially acute pancreatitis. This test is usually done together with the measurement of amylase, as both favor a better diagnosis of the cause of the problem.
Causes of altered levels in Lipase
Elevated levels of lipase may be linked to diseases such as:
- Acute pancreatitis;
- Celiac disease;
- Perforated or penetrating peptic ulcer;
- Obstruction of the pancreatic duct by stone;
- Drug-induced spasm such as codeine, morphine, methacholine, cholinergics;
- Chronic pancreatitis;
- Pancreatic pseudocyst;
- Pancreatic cancer;
- Stomach cancer or perforation in the stomach;
- Acute cholecystitis;
- Obstruction of the small intestine;
- Intestinal infarction;
- Cystic fibrosis;
- Inflammatory bowel disease;
- Acute and chronic renal failure;
- Complication after organ transplantation;
- Alcoholism;
- Diabetic ketoacidosis;
- Intracranial haemorrhage;
- Lymphoma;
- Chronic liver disease.
On the other hand, low levels of lipase generally indicate the presence of cystic fibrosis. See all symptoms of cystic fibrosis.
When to take the Lipase
The test to evaluate lipase values is done when there is a suspicion of one of the diseases mentioned above or when there are symptoms such as fever, severe abdominal pain, stool fat, weight loss and nausea and vomiting.
In cases of acute pancreatitis, amylase levels are usually 5 to 10 times higher than normal, and they already rise 4 to 8 hours after an acute disease crisis, along with amylase levels. These values usually remain high up to 7 to 14 days after the crisis, and higher levels do not indicate the severity of the disease, only its presence. Learn how pancreatitis is treated.
Reference values of Lipase and Amylase
Normal lipase levels are up to 50U / L, and may vary slightly depending on the method used in each laboratory, age, and health history.
Amylase values are normal up to 125 IU / L for people under 60 years of age and up to 151 IU / L for people over 60 years of age. See more about the amylase test.
When to Use Lipase Supplements
There are supplements with lipase that can be used in cases of chronic indigestion, when the person can not process and absorb well the food ingested. It is usually used especially in cases of illness
celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease, which are diseases that cause changes in bowel functioning.
Using this supplement can help reduce symptoms such as gas and feeling discomfort after a meal rich in fats, and should only be used according to medical prescription.
Lack of lipase and low fat absorption can lead to problems such as low weight, deficiency in vitamins A, K, E and D, and a higher frequency of diarrhea.
