Enzymes and Metabolism: Facts, Roles, and Information
Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 4 Aug 2026
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics
Synopsis
An overview of enzymes, the proteins that catalyze the body's metabolic reactions, covering how they work, their role in digestion, disease, and overall health.
At a Glance
- 1 - French chemist Anselme Payen discovered the first enzyme, diastase, in 1833.
- 2 - Enzymes are known to catalyze more than 5,000 types of biochemical reactions.
- 3 - An enzyme is usually named after its substrate or the reaction it catalyzes, with the name ending in -ase.
- 4 - An enzyme called protease breaks down other proteins, and high blood levels can help break down the protein-based vectors that cause disease.
Topic Definition
- Enzymes and Metabolism
Enzymes are molecules, most of them proteins, that speed up or catalyze the chemical reactions the body relies on to stay alive. In each reaction the starting molecules, called substrates, are bound by an enzyme and converted into new molecules called products, and the particular set of enzymes a cell makes determines which metabolic pathways can run inside it. Because metabolism is essentially a vast, continuous series of chemical reactions, enzymes act as the catalysts that make those reactions fast and efficient enough to sustain life. Beyond breaking food into particles the body can turn into energy, they help carry nutrients to tissues, remove waste and toxins, balance cholesterol and triglyceride levels, support liver and brain function, and contribute to the immune response. The body produces enzymes of its own, but cooking and processing destroy those found in food, so a thoughtful diet that includes fresh, raw sources can help keep the body well supplied.
Overview
What are Enzymes?
Enzymes are defined as molecules that accelerate, or catalyze, chemical reactions. In these reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process are called substrates and the enzyme converts these into different molecules, called products. Almost all metabolic processes in the cell need enzymes to occur at rates fast enough to sustain life. The set of enzymes made in a cell determines which metabolic pathways occur in that cell. Enzymes cut-and-paste products such as nutrients. They speed up all vital biological processes. The enzymes in the stomach, for instance, ensure that food is cut into tiny particles that can be converted into energy in the body. The study of enzymes is called enzymology.
Studies show that over 90% of the food we eat is cooked at temperatures of over 118 degrees F. This destroys the enzymes in the food. Since a shortage of enzymes in the system does not have any immediately noticeable effects, except for indigestion, most people ignore this fact and take enzyme filled digestive supplements to help with their digestive problems. While this is fine in the short term, understanding what enzymes do for the rest of the body will show that we need them for much more than digesting our food.
Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts for the human body's metabolic system. The body's metabolism is really just an immense series of constant chemical reactions, and the catalysts increase their efficiency and effect. Enzymes carry nutrients to various parts of the body and also remove waste and toxic matter from the system. They also balance the triglyceride and cholesterol levels and strengthen the endocrine system by supplying the required hormones. At no time and in no way can natural enzymes harm the body.
Did you know that enzymes help to fight disease?
Fungi, bacteria and parasites that invade our bodies and cause sickness are made up of proteins. Even a virus is protected by a protein-based shell. Although enzymes are themselves proteins, there is one called protease which breaks down other proteins. High levels of protease in the blood can help to break down the disease causing vectors in our body.
Research indicates that enzymes help in brain functions.
The hypothalamus is the part of our brain that controls our endocrine system, and this plays an important role in our emotional responses and balance. The hypothalamus needs glucose to function properly and this glucose, which is supplied from the liver, is protein-based. Enzymes promote liver function and support its efforts to produce the glucose. The enzymes in the blood are what carry the nutrients to various parts of the body to provide the muscles the energy to function properly. With low enzyme levels, inadequate protein is carried in the blood and as a result tiredness and lassitude occurs in the muscles, including the brain.
All this is fine, but there are so many things our bodies needs and which we never see producing results. It's easy to forget about the internal functioning of the body and take it for granted - easy but dangerous. The problems with deficiencies of enzymes and other essential elements required by the body is that there are rarely any immediate signs of problems. These develop slowly, and the onset is often so gradual that they are never noticed until they have reached a serious stage where medical intervention is needed.
But there is one thing that enzymes do that is visible.
They help to control weight! They are not a weight loss chemical or anything like that, but they do help to digest food properly and efficiently and reduce the amount of it that is turned into fat. And it's better to reduce the amount of fat collecting in our bodies than to have to take it off later.
Enzymes are not food in themselves - They are just elements of the food.
While the body does produce some enzymes on its own, these are not enough for a healthy metabolism. It is important to know what kinds of foods are enzymes rich and how they should be consumed. As was said earlier, cooking destroys the enzymes in food. Processed foods also have no enzymes. Eating only raw, fresh, unprocessed foods is not a practical proposition. But a little care in controlling our diets can go a long way in ensuring that the body is supplied with the enzymes it needs to stay healthy.
Enzymes: Facts and Statistics
- French chemist Anselme Payen was the first to discover an enzyme, diastase, in 1833.
- Enzymes are known to catalyze more than 5,000 biochemical reaction types.
- Some enzymes are used commercially, for example, in the synthesis of antibiotics.
- An enzyme's name is often derived from its substrate or the chemical reaction it catalyzes, with the word ending in -ase.
- Most enzymes are proteins, although a few are catalytic RNA molecules.
- Enzymes must bind their substrates before they can catalyze any chemical reaction.
- Enzyme kinetics is the investigation of how enzymes bind substrates and turn them into products.
- Several enzymes can work together in a specific order, creating metabolic pathways.
- Enzymes' specificity comes from their unique three-dimensional structures.
- Coenzymes are small organic molecules that can be loosely or tightly bound to an enzyme. Coenzymes transport chemical groups from one enzyme to another.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between digestive and metabolic enzymes?
Digestive enzymes break food down in the gut so nutrients can be absorbed, while metabolic enzymes drive the chemical reactions inside cells that produce energy and maintain body functions.
Should I take enzyme supplements?
Enzyme supplements may help some people with digestive issues, but they are not needed by everyone, so it is best to speak with a doctor before adding them to your routine.
What are the three main types of digestive enzymes?
The main digestive enzymes are amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates, protease, which breaks down proteins, and lipase, which breaks down fats.
Does cooking really destroy enzymes in food?
Heat above roughly 118 degrees Fahrenheit deactivates many enzymes in food, which is why raw and fresh foods retain more of their natural enzyme content than cooked or processed ones.
What causes low enzyme levels in the body?
Enzyme activity can be affected by aging, certain illnesses, digestive disorders, and a diet heavy in cooked and processed foods, though the body still produces enzymes of its own.
Are enzymes and probiotics the same thing?
No, enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions, while probiotics are live beneficial bacteria, though both can play a role in supporting healthy digestion.
Can enzymes affect how the body stores fat?
Enzymes help digest food efficiently, which can influence how much is converted into fat, though they are not weight loss agents and work best alongside a balanced diet.
Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.
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