Lipases in Medicine: An Overview

Lipases are part of the family of hydrolases that act on carboxylic ester bonds. They are involved in catalyzing the hydrolysis of triglycerides (TG) into chylomicrons and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles. Uses of lipases are evolving rapidly and currently they are reported to show high potential in medicine. Intensive study and investigations have led researchers to explore lipases for their use in substitution therapy, where in enzyme deficiency during diseased conditions is compensated by their external administration. In our body, they are used to break down fats present in food so that they can be absorbed in the intestine and deficiency of lipases leads to malabsorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins. Lipases help a person who has cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer’s disease, atherosclerosis and act as a candidate target for cancer prevention and therapy. They act as diagnostic tool and their presence or increasing levels can indicate certain infection or disease. Obesity causes metabolic disease and is a serious health problem around the world. Thus inhibiting digestive lipase to reduce fat absorption has become the main pharmacological approach to the treatment of obesity in recent years.