• Question: how many enzymes are in the body

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      Asked by fingers to Louise on 15 Nov 2016.
      • Photo: Louise Mc Grath

        Louise Mc Grath answered on 15 Nov 2016:

        Hi 753newg23!

        Well as far as I know there are approximately 75,000 enzymes are thought to exist in the human body. They are divided into 3 classes which are:
        1. metabolic enzymes that run our bodies,
        2. digestive enzymes that digest our food,
        3. food enzymes from raw foods that start our food digestion.
        We have so many enzymes because running our bodies, digesting our food and other body functions are very complex and may require lots and lots of different enzymes in order to carry out the task!

        For example food digestion requires:
        1.Amylase from saliva
        2. Protease (pepsin) and hydrochloric acid in the stomach
        3. Proteases (trypsin), lipases amylase, and pancreatic juice from the pancreas
        4. Peptidases, sucrase, lactase and maltase from the intestines
        5. Bile salts from the liver
        Lots of different enzymes are required!

        I hope this makes sense to you and answers the question!

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