Individual Enzymes
Lactase
Lactose is a sugar commonly found in many mammal’s milk. When an inadequate amount of the enzyme, lactase, is produced, the body is not able to digest the lactose because lactase is needed to help break down the milk sugars. According to healthline.com, “By adulthood, up to 70% of people no longer produce enough lactase to properly digest the lactose in milk…” As you can see, lactose intolerance is a major problem internationally. Symptoms of lactose intolerance is stomach pain, diarrhea, bloating, and gas.
Lactase
Lactose is a sugar commonly found in many mammal’s milk. When an inadequate amount of the enzyme, lactase, is produced, the body is not able to digest the lactose because lactase is needed to help break down the milk sugars. According to healthline.com, “By adulthood, up to 70% of people no longer produce enough lactase to properly digest the lactose in milk…” As you can see, lactose intolerance is a major problem internationally. Symptoms of lactose intolerance is stomach pain, diarrhea, bloating, and gas.
Sucrase
Sucrose intolerance is similar to lactose intolerance. Those with sucrose intolerance have a hard time breaking down sugar into glucose and fructose for the body. Another name of sucrose intolerance is called GSID, and the people with GSID lack the enzyme, sucrase, to break down sugar and starch. Some symptoms are gas production, diarrhea, abdominal pains, and cramps
Sucrose intolerance is similar to lactose intolerance. Those with sucrose intolerance have a hard time breaking down sugar into glucose and fructose for the body. Another name of sucrose intolerance is called GSID, and the people with GSID lack the enzyme, sucrase, to break down sugar and starch. Some symptoms are gas production, diarrhea, abdominal pains, and cramps
Alpha-Galactosidase
There are certain people who have a hard time digesting pulses, which are seeds of plants such as beans and peas. These pulses contain carbohydrates called oligosaccharides, which is a kind of fiber. A person’s pancreas and salivary glands produce alpha-galactosidase, which is an enzyme crucial to the breakdown of oligosaccharides. When a person’s body does not produce enough of these enzymes, the body cannot digest the pulses and are therefore intolerant to pulses. Symptoms of alpha-galactosidase intolerance are gas, bloating, and abdominal pain. Food with high-fiber content might not be easily digested by people lack alpha-galactosidase enzymes.
There are certain people who have a hard time digesting pulses, which are seeds of plants such as beans and peas. These pulses contain carbohydrates called oligosaccharides, which is a kind of fiber. A person’s pancreas and salivary glands produce alpha-galactosidase, which is an enzyme crucial to the breakdown of oligosaccharides. When a person’s body does not produce enough of these enzymes, the body cannot digest the pulses and are therefore intolerant to pulses. Symptoms of alpha-galactosidase intolerance are gas, bloating, and abdominal pain. Food with high-fiber content might not be easily digested by people lack alpha-galactosidase enzymes.
Amylase
Amylase works in both saliva and the pancreas, breaking down starch in food such as flour, cornmeal, and oats. Sometimes, the quantity of starch consumed can be too high for certain people, and there is not enough amylase to easily digest the food. Symptoms of amylase intolerance is gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
Amylase works in both saliva and the pancreas, breaking down starch in food such as flour, cornmeal, and oats. Sometimes, the quantity of starch consumed can be too high for certain people, and there is not enough amylase to easily digest the food. Symptoms of amylase intolerance is gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
Protease
Some people suffer from protein sensitivity, where their body cannot produce enough protease to digest protein. Examples of protein are whey and casein in milk. Meat and nuts are known to contain high amounts of protein. Proteins are made up of amino acids that are necessary in helping form cells and repair tissues and transport oxygen around the body. For example, isoleucine is an amino acid in proteins that regulates blood sugar and helps grow and repair muscle tissue. Isoleucine can be found in many different types of animal meat such as beef, fish, nuts, and plants such as lentils. When there is no protease to break down the proteins into separate amino acids, the body cannot digest the proteins well. Symptoms of protein sensitivity are nausea, bloating, and cramping.
Some people suffer from protein sensitivity, where their body cannot produce enough protease to digest protein. Examples of protein are whey and casein in milk. Meat and nuts are known to contain high amounts of protein. Proteins are made up of amino acids that are necessary in helping form cells and repair tissues and transport oxygen around the body. For example, isoleucine is an amino acid in proteins that regulates blood sugar and helps grow and repair muscle tissue. Isoleucine can be found in many different types of animal meat such as beef, fish, nuts, and plants such as lentils. When there is no protease to break down the proteins into separate amino acids, the body cannot digest the proteins well. Symptoms of protein sensitivity are nausea, bloating, and cramping.
Lipase
Without the enzyme, lipase, butter fats cannot be broken down into fatty acids and glycerol. The fat particles in many food is called chylomicrons. Those who suffer from lipase-deficiency do not have enough lipase to break down the fats, or chylomicrons particles, they consume, so the fat will just continue to build up in the blood. Some symptoms to lipase-deficiency are abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
Cited Sources
“5 Sign and Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance.” Elise Mandl, BSc, APD, 15 Mar. 2018,
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lactose-intolerance-symptoms
“What Are the Symptoms of Sucrose Intolerance.” Sucrose Intolerance, Sucroseintolerance.com, www.sucroseintolerance.com/sympt
“Digestive Enzymes and IBS: Gas Production and Beans.” Stephanie Clairmont, 22 Nov. 2017, stephanieclairmont.com/digestive-enzymes-and-ibs-gas-production-and-beans/.
“19 Foods That Are High in Starch.” Ryan Raman, MS, RD (NZ), 20 Sep. 2017, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/high-starch-foods#section7
“FODMAP Intolerance.” American Chemical Society, www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/resources/highschool/chemmatters/past-issues/archive-2014-2015/fodmap-intolerance.html.
“The Problem with Dairy: Lactose Intolerance or Protein Sensitivity? – Deerland.” Deerland Enzymes, www.deerland.com/marketbreakdown/the-problem-with-dairy-lactose-intolerance-or-protein-sensitivity/.
“Science of Meat: Proteins | Exploratorium.” Exploratorium: the Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception, www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/meat/INT-proteins.html.
“Familial Lipoprotein Lipase Deficiency: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000408.
Enzymedica. “Enzymes for Fat Digestion.” Enzymedica, enzymedica.com/blogs/naturaldigestivehealth/enzymes-for-fat-digestion.
Without the enzyme, lipase, butter fats cannot be broken down into fatty acids and glycerol. The fat particles in many food is called chylomicrons. Those who suffer from lipase-deficiency do not have enough lipase to break down the fats, or chylomicrons particles, they consume, so the fat will just continue to build up in the blood. Some symptoms to lipase-deficiency are abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
Cited Sources
“5 Sign and Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance.” Elise Mandl, BSc, APD, 15 Mar. 2018,
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lactose-intolerance-symptoms
“What Are the Symptoms of Sucrose Intolerance.” Sucrose Intolerance, Sucroseintolerance.com, www.sucroseintolerance.com/sympt
“Digestive Enzymes and IBS: Gas Production and Beans.” Stephanie Clairmont, 22 Nov. 2017, stephanieclairmont.com/digestive-enzymes-and-ibs-gas-production-and-beans/.
“19 Foods That Are High in Starch.” Ryan Raman, MS, RD (NZ), 20 Sep. 2017, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/high-starch-foods#section7
“FODMAP Intolerance.” American Chemical Society, www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/resources/highschool/chemmatters/past-issues/archive-2014-2015/fodmap-intolerance.html.
“The Problem with Dairy: Lactose Intolerance or Protein Sensitivity? – Deerland.” Deerland Enzymes, www.deerland.com/marketbreakdown/the-problem-with-dairy-lactose-intolerance-or-protein-sensitivity/.
“Science of Meat: Proteins | Exploratorium.” Exploratorium: the Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception, www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/meat/INT-proteins.html.
“Familial Lipoprotein Lipase Deficiency: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000408.
Enzymedica. “Enzymes for Fat Digestion.” Enzymedica, enzymedica.com/blogs/naturaldigestivehealth/enzymes-for-fat-digestion.
Enzyme Environments
All of the different kinds of enzymes work at a specific pace and in a specific environment. As an example, we will use lactase. Lactase takes about 30 minutes to 2 hours to completely break down the milk sugars. As for the optimum temperature that this enzyme works best at, it would be about 115 degrees Fahrenheit. If any enzyme works at a temperature too low or high, it can be denatured and change its shape. When this occurs, the enzyme won't be able to break down the food it was meant to break down because the enzyme can't lock in with it comfortably. This is the same for acidity. The optimal Ph, or acidity, for lactase is at 6. The Ph scale starts at 0 and ends with 14, and the higher the Ph, the more acidic the environment. 7 is considered neutral, so lactase works in an environment with the acidity a little less than neutral. To help keep the environment stable for the specific enzymes in the enzyme containers, there will be a opening slot right below the enzyme containers so that broken down food products will drop into the transportation tubes. The slot will close, and then the slot right below the transportation tubes will open to drop the food into the storage containers. This will ensure that the temperature and Ph rate within the enzyme containers will stay constant.
Cited Sources
“Lactose Intolerance.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 21 Apr. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lactose-intolerance/symptoms-causes/syc-20374232.
Siskin, Teresa J. “The Effects of PH and Temperature on Enzyme Activity of Lactase on Lactose.” What Students Learn From Dissecting a Cow's Eye | Education - Seattle PI, 21 Nov. 2017, education.seattlepi.com/effects-ph-temperature-enzyme-activity-lactase-lactose-7034.html.