Lipase level
Definition: what is the lipase level?
Pancreatic lipase (here: lipase) is an enzyme that is used to digest fats, especially in the small intestine. Lipase is produced in the pancreas and released into the small intestine, where lipase breaks down the fats ingested with food. A certain proportion of the lipase always gets into the bloodstream and can therefore be measured in the blood value. In certain diseases, the level of lipase in the blood can be too high or too low.
How and where is the lipase level determined?
The lipase level is usually determined in the blood.For this purpose, a blood sample is taken and the blood sample obtained is sent to a laboratory to determine the lipase level. As a rule, the lipase level is determined together with the measurement of other enzymes. A determination of the lipase is prescribed by the doctor especially if there is a suspicion of inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).
But the lipase level is also being determined more and more frequently as part of a routine examination, although this procedure is also increasingly criticized. Less common reasons for determining the lipase are, for example, suspicion of pancreatic insufficiency or pancreatic tumors. The lipase level of ascites (pathological accumulation of fluid in the abdomen) is also rarely determined.
Read more on the subject at: Pancreas - Anatomy and Diseases
What are the normal values?
The unit of lipase is enzyme unit (U) per liter.
The reference value depends on the test method and therefore, in case of doubt, the reference value given by the laboratory should always be regarded as the standard value. Adults should have a lipase value of 13-60 U / l, in children values up to 40 U / l are normal.
What increases the lipase level?
When pancreatic cells die, for example if they become infected, lipase enters the bloodstream and increases the level of lipase in the blood. The most common cause of increased lipase levels in the blood is acute pancreatitis (acute pancreatitis).
Even after operations in the gastrointestinal area, the pancreas value can be increased. Other, rarer causes of increased lipase are, for example, kidney failure, inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis), diabetic ketoacidosis or the administration of the drug heparin.
If, despite increased lipase, no disease can be determined as the cause, clarification of gluten intolerance (sprue) can also be useful, as the lipase level may be increased in some patients with unknown gluten intolerance.
Read more on the topic: Lipase increased
How can you reduce an elevated lipase level?
If the lipase level is increased, the reason for the increase should be clarified in order to treat the cause of the lipase increase. Since in most cases there is inflammation of the pancreas, it must be treated. Above all, it is important not to consume alcohol, as alcohol consumption is the most common reason for inflammation of the pancreas. If a bacterial infection is causing the inflammation of the pancreas, antibiotic treatment is usually ordered by the doctor.
Read more on the subject at: Therapy of pancreatitis
How do I eat properly when I have an elevated lipase level?
Since lipase is needed to break down fats in the small intestine, it is produced by the pancreas even when fats are ingested with food. This process is not a problem for a healthy pancreas. Therefore, in healthy people, the lipase level should not increase even if they eat fatty foods.
However, if the pancreas is burdened by an inflammation, for example, the digestion of fatty foods is an additional burden. Avoid fatty foods in the event of an acute increase in lipase levels until the cause has been clarified. Depending on the cause of the increased lipase level, a change in diet may be necessary. This should be discussed individually with your doctor.
Read more on the subject at: Diet for pancreatitis
What is the cause of low lipase levels?
Low lipase levels in the blood can have various causes. Very often, if the lipase value is too low, there is no cause for concern; the lowering of the lipase value is "idiopathic" (without any recognizable cause). Idiopathically lowered lipase levels are often discovered during preventive medical check-ups and do not cause any complaints in the patient.
A lipase level that is too low is rarely caused by another disease, but then other complaints such as abdominal pain or digestive problems usually occur. In contrast to the increased lipase value in acute pancreatitis, the lipase value can be lowered in chronic pancreatitis (chronic pancreatitis). Even in the case of pancreatic insufficiency, which occurs very rarely (insufficient functioning of the pancreas), values that are too low can be noticed.
In children, a low level of lipase in the blood can indicate cystic fibrosis (cystic fibrosis). If the lipase level is too low for the first time in adulthood, cystic fibrosis is excluded as the cause, as this disease is congenital and is noticeable even in childhood.
What can I do about a low lipase level?
If your lipase level is too low and other diseases have been excluded as a cause, no treatment is required. Only if, for example, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (poor functioning of the pancreas) has been determined, artificially produced lipase can be taken in tablet form together with other enzymes of the pancreas.
Read more on the subject at: Therapy of pancreatic insufficiency
How does the lipase level change in pancreatic cancer?
As part of a disease with pancreatic cancer (pancreatic cancer), inflammation of the pancreas often occurs at the same time (so-called accompanying pancreatitis). This also often increases the lipase level.
In a few cases, a tumor develops from the cells that produce the lipase (so-called acinar cells). These cells then degenerate and multiply in an uncontrolled manner, but continue to produce lipase. Even then, the lipase level is increased. In this case, the lipase value can be used as a so-called tumor marker. This means that the lipase level is measured to control the progression of the disease. In practice, however, other blood values are usually determined for this.
Read more on the subject at: Pancreatic cancer
