A fascinating experiment to illustrate how enzymes work is to chew a piece of bread and notice when the taste shifts from starchy to sweet. This occurs because salivary amylase, an enzyme in our saliva, transforms the starch in the bread into sugar.

This simple test highlights just one type of enzyme, but there are over 75,000 enzymes each playing distinct roles in the body, according to Whitney Holden, PhD, a biology educator at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts.

Let’s explore more about enzymes and their vital functions.

Defining Enzymes

Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts, accelerating biochemical reactions by breaking down larger molecules into smaller ones, explains Dave Farina, a science educator and founder of Professor Dave Explains.

Produced naturally by all living organisms, enzymes perform numerous essential functions vital for survival, Farina notes. These functions include aiding in detoxifying the body, breaking down food into energy, and supporting the growth of new cells and tissues. They also assist with nerve activity, respiration, digestion, muscle development, and much more. According to Farina, “the possibilities are extensive.”

An interesting characteristic of enzymes is their ability to be reused repeatedly without being destroyed in their activities. Additionally, every enzyme in the body has a unique role and specific function.

Types of Enzymes

Enzymes can be divided into six primary categories: oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases, lyases, isomerases, and ligases. Each category is defined by how they operate or the specific chemical reaction they catalyze, according to Farina.

Each enzyme category has distinct roles. For instance, digestive enzymes, which fall under hydrolases, aid in breaking down food for easier absorption. Metabolic enzymes, belonging to the transferases category, convert food into energy, while repair enzymes are responsible for restoring damaged DNA. Holden cites detoxification enzymes in the liver as another example, as they help break down harmful substances like alcohol and toxins.

Moreover, doctors can measure enzyme levels in specific body regions to help diagnose medical conditions. For example, increased liver enzyme levels may indicate liver disease, per information from the Cleveland Clinic.

Enzymes and Food Interaction

Enzymes are essential for our survival; however, human enzymes differ from those found in foods, whether plant-based or animal. While our bodies produce enzymes, some can also be sourced from plants and animals, or they may be artificially created by fermenting microorganisms for various uses.

These enzymes can enhance nutrient absorption in animal feed or improve the qualities of food. For example, they may tenderize meat, prolong the shelf life of alcoholic beverages, keep bread fresh longer, or adjust dairy products for lactose-intolerant individuals.

Even though the enzyme sequences in plants and animal foods differ from human enzymes, they are broken down into amino acids during digestion, according to Holden.

After digestion, our bodies regroup and reform these amino acids to function as enzymes.

A balanced diet rich in various protein sources can ensure that our bodies receive these essential amino acids, Holden recommends. “Try to include protein in as many meals as possible, and your body will reap the benefits.”