What does lipase mean?
Lipase is an enzyme responsible for breaking down fats and other lipids through hydrolysis. It acts by chemically cleaving the ester bonds in lipid molecules, releasing smaller products that the body can absorb and use. Different lipases are produced by the stomach, pancreas, mouth, and other tissues, with pancreatic lipase playing a major role in digesting dietary fat. The term is also important in medicine: measuring lipase levels in the blood can help clinicians investigate acute pancreatitis and related disorders. Lipase is related in origin to words such as lipid, lipolysis, and lipophilic, all of which refer to fats, oily substances, or their breakdown. Although the word is often encountered in technical discussions of digestion and disease, it is based on the familiar idea of fat and is easily understood when its digestive role is explained.
nounA digestive enzyme that breaks down fats by hydrolyzing the ester bonds in lipids, typically producing fatty acids and glycerol. Lipases are produced by organs such as the pancreas, stomach, and small intestine.
- An enzyme that hydrolyzes fats and other lipid substrates, releasing smaller molecules such as fatty acids and alcohols.
"The doctor measured the patient's lipase levels to investigate a possible pancreatic disorder."
"Pancreatic lipase helps digest dietary fats in the small intestine."
"Abnormally high blood lipase levels can be a sign of acute pancreatitis."
The plural is used when referring to different lipase enzymes or to lipase molecules generally.
"Different lipases act at different stages of fat digestion."
Lipase is the enzyme that turns the fats in food into molecules the body can absorb and use.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lipase come from?
The word lipase was formed in the 19th century from Greek lipos, meaning “fat,” together with the suffix -ase, which denotes an enzyme. The Greek root lipos also underlies English words including lipid and lipophilic, while lipolysis refers to the chemical breakdown of fats. The naming reflects the enzyme's established role in digesting and hydrolyzing lipid substrates.
How lipase is actually used
Lipase is primarily used in biology, medicine, and nutrition. In medicine, blood lipase levels are often discussed in relation to pancreatic injury, although elevated levels are not exclusive to that condition.