A pancreatic enzyme whose function is to break down fats.

Lipase in a healthy body leaves the gland into the duodenum, where it reacts with fats. If the organ becomes inflamed (pancreatitis), however, swelling prevents the enzyme from entering the intestinal lumen and lipase enters the bloodstream. The result can be up to 200 times more! The prognosis is considered unfavourable if the lipase activity increases more than 10-fold and does not decrease within a few days to 3-fold normal.

Lipase is produced exclusively in the pancreas, unlike other enzymes (e.g. amylase).For this reason the determination of lipase is of great diagnostic value in the diagnosis of pancreatitis.