Saturday, March 16, 2013

What Role Do Enzymes Play in Metabolism? 10 Facts to Know

What role do enzymes play in metabolism? Enzymes, by all means, are important chemicals that help in metabolism. Without it, no metabolism can take place. It may for some time, but in the long run it may be damaging for the body – even deadly. Here are 10 facts you need to know about enzymes – and what role it plays in metabolism.

What role do enzymes play in metabolism? Facts 1-5

1. Enzymes are protein-controlling chemicals that cause biochemical reactions. To add, these are also complex chemicals that act as a biochemical catalyst. In terms of catalyst, these are chemicals that enhance or accelerate a chemical reaction.

2. Why are enzymes important? Enzymes act as biochemical catalysts to accelerate chemical processes in the body. When it comes to metabolism, they heighten the metabolic rate by aiding the digestion of nutrients.

3. There are 4 basic nutrients that the body needs. These are water, carbohydrates, protein and fats. Enzymes are needed to heighten the digestion of these 4 basic nutrients.

4. When it comes to carbohydrates, it primarily consists of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen (CHO) molecules. Moreover, there are two kinds of it: simple and complex carbohydrates. When it comes to molecules, monosaccharide consists of glucose, fructose and galactose. Of all these, glucose is the basic structural unit.

5. In order to derive energy from carbohydrates, complex carbs must be converted to glucose. To do this, enzymes are needed. Most starch and simple carbohydrates are digested by enzymes such as the salivary amylase (ptyalin), and pancreatic amylase. Meanwhile, disaccharides are digested by enzymes maltase, sucrase and lactase.

What role do enzymes play in metabolism? Facts 6-10

6. Protein, meanwhile, consists of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen and its basic unit is amino acid. To convert complex proteins to amino acid, enzymes such as pepsin from the small intestine; pancreatic enzymes such as trypsin, chymotrypsin and carboxypeptidase,; and aminopeptidase and dipeptidase from the intestinal wall are needed.

7. Enzymes do a lot of things to provide energy to the body. Protein cannot be easily digested if without necessary enzymes to aid as chemical catalysts.

8. When it comes to fats to lipids, bile, pancreatic lipase and enteric lipase are the enzymes needed to break down strong lipid chains. Fatty acid is the basic structural unit of lipids and in order to convert fats into fatty acids, enzymes are irrevocably needed.

9. What happens when there is no adequate supply of enzymes? The body goes into a survival mode. Inadequacy of enzymes happens when there are organ failures concerning the liver, pancreas, intestines and the colon. When at a loss of basic structural units of nutrients, the body uses up its reserves but unfortunate consequences may follow. Using up of adipose reserves and converting it into energy can cause metabolic acidosis in the long run. Other consequences might be even deadly.

10. Thus, to support and maintain the functioning of organs and the production of enzymes, it is important to take care of the body. Alcohol, smoking, fatty foods, meals high in sodium are just some of the things to avoid to have a excellently functioning body. What role do enzymes play in metabolism? It does a lot.