The key difference between proteolytic enzymes and digestive enzymes is that proteolytic enzymes are protein molecules that break down proteins into smaller substances, such as amino acids, while digestive enzymes are protein molecules that break down complex food molecules, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids into smaller substances such as glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, and glycerol.
Proteolytic enzymes and digestive enzymes are very important enzymes that play an important role in digestion in the human body. Enzymes are proteins that help to speed up the chemical reactions in the human body. Enzymes are essential for activities like digestion, liver function, etc. However, too much or too little enzymes can lead to certain health conditions.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Proteolytic Enzymes
3. What are Digestive Enzymes
4. Similarities – Proteolytic Enzymes and Digestive Enzymes
5. Proteolytic Enzymes vs Digestive Enzymes in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Proteolytic Enzymes vs Digestive Enzymes
What are Proteolytic Enzymes?
Proteolytic enzymes are protein molecules that break down proteins into smaller substances, such as amino acids. These enzymes can be made by animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria. They are also called peptidases, proteases, or proteinases. In the human body, they are produced by the stomach and pancreas. Generally, proteolytic enzymes break down proteins in the human body. Therefore, they are useful in the digestion process or with the breakdown of proteins involved in swelling and pain. In addition, they are essential for cell division, blood clotting, immune function, and protein recycling.
Some examples of proteolytic enzymes may include bromelain, chymotrypsin, ficin, papain, serrapeptase, and trypsin. These proteolytic enzymes are generally found in different food sources and are also found in supplements. Moreover, these enzymes are very safe, but they can cause digestive issues and allergic reactions and interfere with other medicines when taken in large amounts. Furthermore, the deficiency of proteolytic enzymes leads to diseases like human skeletal dysplasia, and elevated expression leads to diseases like cardiometabolic disease.
What are Digestive Enzymes?
Digestive enzymes are protein molecules that break down complex food molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids into smaller substances such as glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, and glycerol. Different types of digestive enzymes target different nutrients; for example, amylase breaks down carbohydrates like starch, protease breaks down proteins, and lipase breaks down fats. These enzymes are made in the stomach, pancreas, gall bladder, liver, and small intestine in the human body. Moreover, the sources of digestive enzymes include fruits, vegetables, other foods, and supplements. Some well-known examples of digestive enzymes are amylase, maltase, lactase, lipase, pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, carboxypeptidase A, and carboxypeptidase B.
The functions of digestive enzymes include digestion and reducing inflammation. Furthermore, a deficiency of digestive enzymes may lead to diseases such as lactose intolerance, congenital lactase deficiency, secondary lactose intolerance, and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.
What are the Similarities Between Proteolytic Enzymes and Digestive Enzymes?
- Proteolytic enzymes and digestive enzymes are very important enzymes that play an important role in digestion in the human body.
- Both types break down complex molecules into smaller substances.
- Both types can be found in animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria.
- Their consumption in larger amounts can lead to side effects.
- The deficiencies and elevated expression of both types can lead to diseases in humans.
What is the Difference Between Proteolytic Enzymes and Digestive Enzymes?
Proteolytic enzymes are protein molecules that break down proteins into smaller substances, such as amino acids, while digestive enzymes are protein molecules that break down complex food molecules, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, into smaller substances, such as glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, and glycerol. Thus, this is the key difference between proteolytic enzymes and digestive enzymes. Furthermore, proteolytic enzymes are made by the stomach and pancreas in the human body, while digestive enzymes are made by the stomach, pancreas, gall bladder, liver, and small intestine in the human body.
The below infographic presents the differences between proteolytic enzymes and digestive enzymes in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Proteolytic Enzymes vs Digestive Enzymes
Proteolytic enzymes and digestive enzymes are very important protein molecules that play a vital role in human digestion. Proteolytic enzymes break down proteins into smaller substances, such as amino acids, while digestive enzymes break down complex food molecules, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids into smaller substances, such as glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, and glycerol. So, this summarizes the difference between proteolytic enzymes and digestive enzymes.
Reference:
1. “Proteolytic Enzymes (Proteases): Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews.” WebMD.
2. “What Are Digestive Enzymes: Natural Sources and Supplements.” WebMD.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Protease theory” By TN6530 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Digestive Enzymes” By Acabatcha – Own work (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia