Digestive enzymes

• Enzymes


  Essential for helping us break down the large molecules that we eat into the much smaller soluble molecules that we can absorb through our intestinal lining
• Main groups of nutrients to be broken down

  • Carbohydrates
  • Proteins
  • Fats
• Carbohydrates


  Found mainly in foods like pasta, potatoes and rice, used by the body mainly as an energy source
• Starch


  The main type of carbohydrate
• Breakdown of starch


  Broken down by the enzyme amylase into smaller sugars such as maltose
• Places where amylase is made


  • Salivary glands
  • Pancreas
  • Small intestine
• Proteins


  Found in things like nuts, meats and beans
• Breakdown of proteins


  Broken down by protease enzymes into amino acids
• Places where proteases are made


  • Stomach (pepsin)
  • Pancreas
  • Small intestine
• Fats/Lipids


  Found in foods like cheese, oils and chocolate
• Breakdown of fats/lipids


  Broken down by lipase enzymes into glycerol and fatty acids
• Places where lipases are made


  • Pancreas
  • Small intestine
• All digestive enzymes are made by the pancreas and small intestine, with amylase also made by salivary glands and proteases also made in the stomach